Monk, Graham help Hornets come back from 18 down to knock off Timberwolves
The Charlotte Hornets overcame an 18-point deficit to beat the Minnesota Timberwolves on the road, 115-108, Wednesday, closing out the pre-All Star break schedule.
Hornets point guard Devonte Graham put away the game with 54 seconds left, nailing a deep 3-pointer for a seven-point lead. Graham finished with 28 points, including five 3s.
Maliik Monk added 25 off the bench for the Hornets, who won their second in a row to improve to 18-36.
The Timberwolves, who played without star big man Karl-Anthony Towns, got 26 points from newly-acquired guard D’Angelo Russell.
Nice Buzz
Monk has always been capable of the occasional spectacular game in his 2 1/2 seasons with the Hornets, but he has finally reached a level of consistency. This was the ninth time in the past 10 games he reached double-figure scoring.
Monk entered the NBA draft at 19, after one season at Kentucky, and told the Observer on Wednesday he wasn’t prepared to be a professional as a rookie. He’s showing signs of maturity and accountability as he finds his place in the NBA.
Bee Stings
Turnovers and fouls are things mostly within a team’s control. The Hornets failed in that regard in the first half, falling behind by 16 at halftime. They committed 10 turnovers to the Timberwolves’ five. The Timberwolves outscored the Hornets 13-2 at the foul line.
It’s all the more important for a team with as small a margin for error as the Hornets to focus on the little things that are correctable.
Building Blocks
It would be hard for Hornets coach James Borrego to be any more all-in on the pivot to youth than he was Wednesday. He started undrafted rookie Caleb Martin at shooting guard in place of the injured Terry Rozier (sore knee). Jalen McDaniels, the second of the Hornets’ two second-round picks, was the first reserve off the bench.
Borrego has said young, developmental players should either get minutes in Charlotte or be in Greensboro with the G-League Swarm. Calling up Martin and McDaniels after veterans Marvin Williams and Michael Kidd-Gilchrist were released via buyouts makes sense only if they get experience, and Borrego is finding them minutes.
Beyond the Numbers
The Hornets chose not to have a veteran third point guard on the roster this season. That position is standard in the NBA, but no big deal for a Hornets team in rebuild mode. It took 53 games for Graham or Rozier to miss a game, and finally test who Borrego views as his emergency third point guard.
Monk got that assignment with Rozier resting a sore knee. Borrego has said Monk, Nicolas Batum and Cody Martin (in concussion protocol) each has some point-guard skills in a pinch.
This story was originally published February 12, 2020 at 10:36 PM with the headline "Monk, Graham help Hornets come back from 18 down to knock off Timberwolves."
