Charlotte Hornets ahead Leaky Black, left, and guard Terry Rozier (3) have a good time after their win in opposition to the Minnesota Timberwolves in an NBA basketball recreation, Monday, Jan. 22, 2024, in Minneapolis. (AP Picture/Abbie Parr)

MINNEAPOLIS  — Karl-Anthony Cities scored a franchise-record 62 factors, together with 44 within the first half, however the Charlotte Hornets erased an 18-point deficit and surprised the Minnesota Timberwolves 128-125 on Monday night time within the NBA.

Towns managed simply 4 factors on 2-for-10 taking pictures within the fourth quarter, when the Timberwolves had been outscored 36-18. He thought he was fouled on a drive to the basket within the closing seconds and Minnesota trailing by one, then was brief on a 3-point try on the ultimate possession.

KAT left all of it on the ground, together with scoring 44 1H PTS and pulling down 10 triples on solution to a brand new profession excessive of 62.

Cities turns into the primary participant in NBA historical past with 10+ 3PM, 10+ 2PM, and 10+ FTM in a recreation. pic.twitter.com/o6EoQtnpSg

— NBA (@NBA) January 23, 2024

Miles Bridges scored 28 factors and Brandon Miller had 27 for the Hornets. Leaky Black ripped the ball away from Cities on his solution to the basket to protect the Hornets’ tenth victory of the season.

Charlotte went forward for good at 122-121 on P.J. Washington’s floater with 3:21 remaining. LaMelo Ball added 18 factors for the Hornets, who had misplaced seven of their previous eight video games and had the Jap Convention’s third-worst mark coming into Monday.

Cities completed 21 for 35 from the ground, together with 10 for 15 from 3-point vary, and now owns the highest three scoring outputs within the Wolves’ 35-year historical past.

The Wolves ran an isolation search for Cities with 12 seconds left, however Black blocked his driving layup try then hit a pair of free throws on the different finish.

Cities’ desperation 3 inside the ultimate second ensured the twenty first time in NBA historical past a participant has scored 60 or extra factors in a loss.

Ball returned after a one-game absence because of a sore proper ankle. He had missed 20 video games earlier than enjoying in 4 straight then sitting out the Hornets’ 97-89 loss in opposition to Philadelphia on Saturday.

The short-handed Hornets once more deployed an undersized entrance court docket, with 6-foot-7 heart Washington beginning for the injured Nick Richards (proper ankle sprain). Heart Mark Williams and ahead Gordon Hayward proceed to recuperate from a decrease again harm and left calf pressure, respectively.

Ahead Cody Martin additionally missed Monday’s recreation with a proper knee contusion.