Alexander's flurry defeats Timberwolves

NEW ORLEANS (AP) -- When newly acquired guard Courtney Alexander failed to earn a starting job in training camp, he was reassured he'd still play a key role for the New Orleans Hornets.

Alexander's faith was rewarded Wednesday night. He scored 11 of his 23 points in the fourth quarter as the Hornets erased an 11-point deficit to beat the Minnesota Timberwolves 102-98

"It's a difficult situation when you've been traded, trying to get a feel for a new system," said Jamal Mashburn, who led the Hornets with 25 points and 10 rebounds. "I just tell him, 'just relax, do what you do best, there's a reason why we got you."'

Mashburn thinks Alexander can be an exceptional scorer in the NBA.

"I'm very confident that he'll either drive to the hole, get fouled -- he's just got to be aggressive," Mashburn said.

Alexander, acquired from Washington for the Hornets' first-round draft pick, said defining his role off the bench was tough at first.

"But we're getting in that rhythm. It was definitely a good game to get under my belt," he said.

He hit all 10 of his free throws, eight of them in the final period. He also made a 3-pointer from the corner to tie the game at 94 with just over two minutes left.

Baron Davis scored 15, and P.J. Brown had 11 points and nine rebounds for New Orleans, now 5-0 in its new home.

Kevin Garnett and reserve Rod Strickland led Minnesota with 16 points each. Troy Hudson added 14, Wally Szczerbiak 13 and Radoslav Nesterovic had 12 points with 12 rebounds.

But Garnett struggled during New Orleans' comeback, failing to score during the final 11 minutes and missing two free throws.

"I take responsibility for this loss," he said. "When it comes down to it, you have to make plays and I didn't."

Minnesota, which has lost all four of its road games, led 91-80, the largest lead for either team, with 7:41 left.

"This was our best game on the road. We just got into a situation where we couldn't make plays. We couldn't make shots," Minnesota coach Flip Saunders said.

After Strickland's basket made it 93-84 with 6:33 left, New Orleans went on a 14-1 run during which Alexander scored seven.

"We played scared. There's no excuse for that," Szczerbiak said. "We have to play with the mentality that we're going to take care of business and pummel these teams down the stretch."

Szczerbiak was a surprise starter after sitting out the past three games with a sprained left knee.

Both teams shot above 50 percent in the first half. Mashburn, guarded by Garnett, scored 11 in the first quarter and had 17, including two 3-pointers, by halftime.

"I almost prefer a bigger guy on me," Mashburn said. "Sometimes with smaller guys you can't really feel them and I'm more of a feel player. His length is tremendous but it doesn't bother me."

Notes: The Timberwolves are below .500 for the first time since November 2000, when Minnesota started 2-4 before winning five straight. ... The game stopped briefly in the first half when a mini, remote-controlled blimp used for advertising went out of control and slowly sank onto the court. ... Hornets C Elden Campbell, sidelined with knee soreness that required arthroscopic surgery, felt pain Tuesday and didn't work out as scheduled Wednesday. "It's beginning to get frustrating because we need him," said Silas, who couldn't project when Campbell would return.

MINNESOTA (98)

Garnett 6-15 4-8 16, Woods 0-3 0-0 0, Nesterovic 6-17 0-0 12, Hudson 6-11 1-2 14, Szczerbiak 4-10 5-5 13, Gill 4-11 2-2 10, Slater 4-8 0-0 8, Jackson 2-2 2-2 6, Strickland 7-8 2-2 16, Peeler 1-3 0-0 3. Totals 40-88 16-21 98.

NEW ORLEANS (102)

Mashburn 11-21 1-1 25, Brown 4-7 3-3 11, Magloire 2-4 2-4 6, Davis 5-16 3-3 15, Wesley 3-12 1-2 8, Alexander 6-9 10-10 23, Traylor 1-2 0-0 2, Lynch 3-5 0-0 8, Augmon 1-2 2-2 4. Totals 36-78 22-25 102.

Minnesota 22 32 27 17 -- 98

New Orleans 22 31 20 29 -- 102

3-Point Goals--Minnesota 2-5 (Peeler 1-1, Hudson 1-2, Szczerbiak 0-1, Gill 0-1), New Orleans 8-20 (Lynch 2-4, Mashburn 2-5, Davis 2-7, Alexander 1-1, Wesley 1-3). Fouled out--None. Rebounds--Minnesota 48 (Nesterovic 12), New Orleans 50 (Mashburn 10). Assists--Minnesota 24 (Hudson 8), New Orleans 26 (Davis 10). Total fouls--Minnesota 22, New Orleans 16. Technicals--Minnesota Defensive Three Second, Augmon. A--13,019 (20,000).