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Sports

Jefferson leads Bobcats past Timberwolves

By Sports Network
Published | Updated

Charlotte, NC – Charlotte, NC (SportsNetwork.com) - Al Jefferson posted 25 points with 16 rebounds as the Charlotte Bobcats took care of the Minnesota Timberwolves, 105-93, on Friday.

Gary Neal recorded 19 points on 6-of-10 shooting -- including 3-for-3 from deep -- and a quartet of Bobcats tallied 10 points in the win, Charlotte's eighth straight at home.

"Every game from here on out is big for us," said Jefferson. "Trying to take it one game at a time and just play Bobcats basketball."

Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, Gerald Henderson, Cody Zeller and Chris Douglas- Roberts each scored 10-apiece, with Kidd-Gilchrist narrowly missing a double- double, grabbing nine rebounds. The Bobcats have won four of their last five overall to maintain their spot as the seventh-seed in the Eastern Conference.

Kevin Martin paced Minnesota with 19 points, while Kevin Love contributed 18 and Corey Brewer and Dante Cunningham each netted 10 for the Timberwolves, who have dropped two of their last three.

Love's 3-pointer with 1 1/2 minutes to play in the first quarter helped the visitors to a 31-26 lead, but Charlotte crept back in it in the final minute, tying it at, 33-33, at the end of one.

"We scored 33 in the first quarter and when we went to the bench, but when we went to the bench, they continued to score," said Timberwolves coach Rick Adelman.

Neal scored 11 points during a second quarter-opening 26-10 run for Charlotte that gave the Bobcats a 59-43 lead with just under four minutes to play.

Nikola Pekovic made a layup with 1.1 seconds left in the quarter to cut the deficit to 65-53 at the half.

Jefferson netted seven points during a 9-2 sprint that pushed the halftime advantage to 17, 80-63, with over five minutes left in the third.

Charlotte's lead was as high as 18 in the quarter, but Minnesota chipped away at the deficit in the fourth, with Cunningham's jumper cutting it to 98-87 with 7 1/2 minutes left in the game.

Both teams went cold from there, as the two combined for just 13 points over the final seven-plus minutes and Charlotte won it in comfortable fashion.

Game Notes

Minnesota won the first meeting of the season at home, 119-92, on January 10 ... The Bobcats had a 54-35 advantage on the boards and a 20-6 lead in second chance points.