Minnesota's last chance ended when Love stepped out of bounds just before converting a layup and getting fouled as the Timberwolves trailed 94-84 with less than three minutes left.

Paul made nice passes to Emeka Okafor and Peja Stojakovic for lay-ups in the first quarter, but he was not at full speed early. With a chance to drive to the basket on a fast break, he pulled up and missed a flat-footed 6-foot shot. He also was slow getting up the court on a few possessions and missed his first four shots.

Minnesota led by as many as 11 points, 49-38, in the first half after going on a 10-0 run early in the second quarter. Wayne Ellington and Sasha Pavlovic hit 3-pointers to bookend the spurt, but the Timberwolves gave almost all of the advantage away in the final minute.

Paul made them pay the rest of the way. He was not expected to return until Tuesday at the earliest against Sacramento, but he decided he could not wait any longer.

"I knew at some point I was going to have to come back and test it and get a good barometer," he said. "This way, if it didn't work out I'd have four days before we came back and played another game."

NOTES: Love, the No. 5 pick in the 2008 NBA draft, played in his first game since breaking a bone in his left non-shooting hand in the preseason. He finished with 11 points and 11 rebounds after entering with 6:20 left in the first quarter ... The Timberwolves had won their last road game 106-100 against Denver. ... The Hornets have won five in a row at home.