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Charlotte Hornets · As victory became more and more of a longshot with each successive long shot from Karl-Anthony Towns, the Charlotte Hornets found fire over the final frame, offering the Minnesota Timberwolves something of their own: a long list of regrets. Likely safe from considerable scrutiny even with a loss to the Western Conference’s then-No. 1 seed, the Hornets veered from the easy way out, soaring back from a 15-point fourth quarter deficit to sting Minnesota for a signature win. For much of the game, Towns’ offensive eruption, which included a 44-point illustration by halftime and 50 points with roughly two full quarters remaining, served as the top-fold story. By game’s end, Charlotte had survived the 62-point display, using both a 36-18 finish and countless contributions from players both heralded and unheralded. Although the Hornets’ leader was somewhat arguable — with LaMelo Ball providing an 18-point, 13-assist game and Miles Bridges (28 points) and Brandon Miller (27 points) of similar excellence — their cohesive greatness was not. Through both a 58.1 shooting percentage and a 30-to-10 turnover ratio, Charlotte discovered a flawless blueprint for success, capping a two-victory week that served as a high point of their 2023-24 campaign. · State of Mint