Despite a 7-2 January record coming into Friday night's home game against New Orleans, Timberwolves coach Kevin McHale was asked earlier in the day what his team could do better.
"We're trying to get better in every aspect of the game," McHale said. "We've got to be able to tie it in defensively, we've got to be able to move the ball better on offense, we've got to be able to still find our rhythm of playing through Al (Jefferson) on the post. Every day it's about us trying to get better." It took time, but the Timberwolves did improve against the Hornets. Just enough for a victory.
Rodney Carney scored all 15 of his points in the second half, and Jefferson finished with 24 points and 14 rebounds for his 23rd double-double of the season as Minnesota escaped 116-108.
The Wolves outscored New Orleans 37-27 in the final quarter and won for the 10th time in 14 games.
In two home games last season against the Hornets, the Wolves lost by 28 and 32 points.
At least one Hornet was shooting for another blowout. Forward James Posey tied a career high with seven three-pointers and finished with a season-high 24 points.
But Minnesota turned it up down the stretch, which made up for an average first half.
That sound you might have heard at halftime was McHale pulling out the drawing board -- at least for defensive purposes. In an otherwise close game through 24 minutes, the Wolves had little answer for the Hornets' pick and roll maneuvers.
A Ryan Gomes three-pointer with 7 minutes, 25 seconds to play in the third quarter gave Minnesota a 63-62 lead, its first since a 22-21 margin in the opening quarter.
Problem was, that's about the time Posey heated up. He scored nine consecutive New Orleans points in one third-quarter stretch.
Do-everything guard Chris Paul had only eight points at halftime, the final two coming on free throws with 0.6 seconds remaining. But his acrobatic, hand-switching layup with two minutes to play demonstrated just part of what he brings to the floor.
That basket gave New Orleans an 11-point lead. His seven assists at halftime contributed in a big way to that cushion, which was trimmed to five at the break when the Wolves scored eight of the final 10 points in the half. Paul finished with 23 points.
The Hornets were ahead 30-25 after the first quarter. New Orleans shot 65 percent in the first 12 minutes, with Peja Stojakovic, Sean Marks and Rasual Butler combining for a perfect 11-for-11 from the field.
WOLVES 116, NEW ORLEANS 108
GAME RECAP
MVP
Randy Foye, Wolves
The guard's clutch three pointers in the final two minutes gave the Wolves a cushion, and he finished with 24 points to go with eight assists.
NUMBERS
200 Games in a Wolves uniform for forward Craig Smith, who scored 15 points on 5-for-7 shooting in 26 minutes.
15 Points for Rodney Carney oft he bench, all in the second half.
8 Games in the past nine Foye has hit two or more three pointers. He had three Friday.
7 Wolves players in double-figure scoring, of the nine who played. Foye and Jefferson each scored 24 points.
BRIAN STENSAAS
Up next: 6 p.m. Sunday vs. Chicago - Target Center - TV: FSN (1130-AM)
