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CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- Perhaps this was the type of win the talented and young Minnesota Timberwolves needed to get on a roll.Andrew Wiggins scored 29 points, Karl-Anthony Towns added 27 points and 15 rebounds, and the Timberwolves showed late-game poise by erasing a 10-point, fourth-quarter deficit to beat the Southeast Division-leading Charlotte Hornets 125-120 in overtime on Saturday night.The more close games youre in and the more you win, the better you get, Minnesota coach Tom Thibodeau said. Repetition builds habits. When you see things happen in a game, it slows everything down.Zack LaVine added 17 points and Ricky Rubio had nine points and 12 assists for the Timberwolves, who snapped a four-game losing streak and avoided being swept by the Hornets for the third straight season.We came back and really made some really winning plays down the stretch, LaVine said. Thats what happens when you keep fighting. Weve been fighting the last four or five games and been in those positions but we got over that hump. It feels good. Now we need to keep it going.Towns, a dominant force on the glass all night, had six points in overtime, including a backbreaking follow off a missed shot with 21 seconds left to put the Timberwolves up by six. Towns sealed the victory with two free throws with 3.9 seconds remaining.Charlotte appeared on its way to its fourth win in five games, leading 104-97 with less than one minute to play.But Minnesota battled back to tie the game in regulation with LaVine, Rubio and Wiggins all hitting 3-pointers in the final 39 seconds. Wiggins pull-up from 31 feet in transition with 8.9 seconds tied the game at 106.The Hornets had a chance to win the game at the end of regulation, but Kemba Walker missed everything on a step-back 18-footer at the buzzer.There were a lot of mistakes on the defensive end and we gave up some big baskets, Walker said. We missed some rotations and we have to be better down the stretch.Walker led Charlotte with 22 points and eight assists. Frank Kaminsky had 21 points and Nic Batum had 15 points and 12 assists.TIP-INS:Timberwolves: Wiggins and Towns were a combined 22 of 42 from the field. ... Blocked 10 shots.Hornets: The Hornets have given up an average of 16.5 points per game in the first quarter in the last two games, compared to a season average of 27.1 points. ... Cody Zeller had four blocks.STRONG OT STARTThe Timberwolves took advantage of the momentum they had built at the end of regulation, opening overtime with a 7-0 run.You know, it always looks better when the ball is going in, Thibodeau said. When were getting the right shots and sharing the ball, everything looks a lot better. Obviously, playing from a lead is important and we havent been doing that.NOT PHYSICAL ENOUGHHornets coach Steve Clifford said he was especially disappointed with this loss because the team had emphasized getting its defense set and physicality in terms of blocking out.They crushed us with the block outs in the fourth quarter, Clifford said. They had at least four that might have led to nine points. That cant happen. Its been discussed and weve watched it and the reality is we either going to become a more physical group or were not going to win -- at least not every night.TOWNS PASSES GARNETTTowns established a new Timberwolves record with his 27th straight game with at least one blocked shot. He had two blocks against the Hornets.UP NEXT:Timberwolves: Minnesota returns home Tuesday to face the NBAs best road team in San Antonio. The Spurs are 11-0 on the road, while the Timberwolves are 3-6 at home.Hornets: Charlotte heads out on the road Monday night to face the Dallas Mavericks, who they just beat on Thursday night. Arik Armstead Jersey . Each of Houstons starters scored in double figures as the Rockets improved to 2-0 against the Spurs this season, with both victories coming on the road. They also moved within 3 1/2 games of San Antonio (22-7) for the lead the Southwest Division. Steve DeBerg Jersey . Halifax beat the Saint John Sea Dogs 7-5 on the strength of two goals apiece from Nikolaj Ehlers, Matt Murphy and Brent Andrews. Jonathan Drouin also scored and had three assists while Zachary Fucale made 17 saves for the Mooseheads (16-8-0), who led 6-1 after two periods. http://www.custom49ersjersey.com/custom-frankie-albert-jersey-large-708d.html . The Nashville Predators were glad their captain was still on their side. Weber had a goal and two assists, and Roman Josi scored the shootout winner to lift the Predators to a 4-3 win over the Flyers on Thursday night. Bob St. Clair Jersey . Soukalova missed only one target and completed the 15-kilometre course in 40 minutes, 32.6 seconds for both victories in this seasons individual discipline. Darya Domracheva of Belarus was second, 34. Bernie Casey Jersey . Jane Virtanen scored two, and Alex Roach and Elliott Peterson rounded out the offence for the Hitmen (40-15-6). Brady Brassart chipped in with three assists. Colton McCarthy scored twice, Brayden Point had a goal and two assists, and Jack Rodewald also scored for the Warriors (15-35-9), who were 2 for 5 on the power play. TAMPA, Fla. -- Jameis Winston has to play better for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers to realize their potential. So does the supporting cast around the young quarterback.The second-year pros inconsistency has been a focal point during a slow start thats concerning not so much because of a 2/3 record as the way the team performed during a three-game losing streak that followed a season-opening win over the Falcons.Injuries have been a factor. So have an offense thats turned the ball over too much; a defense that hasnt generated enough pressure on opposing passers; and rookie kicker Roberto Aguayo (4 of 8 on field goals, one missed extra point), whos done little to stop lingering questions about whether it was a mistake to draft him in the second round.All that said, coach Dirk Koetter feels good about where the team sits in the NFC South race after beating the first-place Falcons (4-1) and three-time defending division champion Carolina Panthers (1-4) on the road in the first five weeks of the season.Now, this weekends bye offers an opportunity for several injured starters, including running back Doug Martin and defensive linemen Gerald McCoy and Robert Ayers Jr., to get healthy.It probably couldnt be at a better time for us, Koetter said of the break, which comes of the heels of a skid-ending 17-14 win over the Panthers.The momentum factor is one thing, the first-year coach added, but we have a chance to get several key members of our team back.Tampa Bay has missed the playoffs eight consecutive seasons, finishing last in the NFC South the past five.Martins return from a hamstring injury could be essential to Winston, who threw seven interceptions and lost two fumbles during the three-game skid, ending that trend.With the two-time Pro Bowl running back sidelined for three games and most of a fourth, the Bucs have been unable to run the ball consistently. Martin rushed for 1,402 yards a year ago, finishing second in the NFL behind Adrian Peterson. Through five games, Tampa Bay is averaging 3.3 yards per carry rushing.Thats placed a heavier burden on Winston, whos completed 58.5 percent of his passes for 1,327 yards, nine touchdowns and eight interceptions.In Tampa Bays two victories, the Bucs attempted 62 passes. In losses to Arizona, Los Angeles and Denver, Winston threw 145 times.The importance of a productive rushing attack was evvident last Monday against Carolina, the first time this season the Bucs ran the ball more (37 carries, with Jacquizz Rodgers gaining 101 yards on 30 attempts) than Winston threw it (30 times without an interception).ddddddddddddI feel like Ive improved a lot from my first year to my second year, said Winston, who threw for more than 4,000 yards as a rookie. I just have to protect the football -- thats the main thing. Just put us in better situations to win football games.A healthy Martin can make a difference.Despite getting a big night against Carolina from Rodgers, who wasnt on the roster when the season began, Martins versatility was a huge part of Tampa Bay ranking fifth in total offense last season.Im excited for him to come back, Winston said. But I just think overall, as an offense, protecting the football is the main thing.Koetter also entered the bye week encouraged about the progress of the defense, which he says has not been nearly as bad as statistics might suggest.Tampa Bay is tied for 28th in points allowed (142), although Koetter notes opponents have benefited greatly from the Bucs turning over the ball and leaving the defense in bad situations.In addition, two of Winstons nine turnovers have been returned for touchdowns.Youre going to be judged as a defense ultimately by how many points youve given up, defensive coordinator Mike Smith said. Weve given up way too many points. And it doesnt matter where the drive starts, how it happened -- weve got to go out and stop them, and we havent shown the resiliency that we need to.The hope is the return of Ayers from an ankle injury thats sidelined him since Week 2, as well as a healthy McCoy -- who missed last Monday nights game after injuring his calf the previous week -- will bolster a defensive line that had to rely in part on an undrafted rookie and other backups in expanded roles.I think were a lot closer than we are away ... I can assure you that, Smith said. And, really theres one guy to me thats got to do a better job, and thats Mike Smith. Hes the guy thats got to make sure that these guys understand what were trying to get accomplished, what were trying to get done.---AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org and http://twitter.com/AP-NFL ' ' '