TMJF: Hornets 98, Wolves 89

Stat Line: 27 minutes, 2-8 FG, 1-2 3FG, 1-2 FT, 6 pts, 2 rebs, 4 assts, 1 stl, 2 TOs.

Frustrating night, I'm sure, for Jonny Flynn, who had a relatively quiet game against one of the players he says he looks up to, New Orleans' Chris Paul. Flynn wasn't bad in this game, he just didn't do much. He gave Paul a little too much space on defense, perhaps over-reacting to Paul's cold start from outside (which may be attributable to his having missed the previous eight games with an ankle injury). Paul ended up with a ridiculous line -- 16/6/15 with eight steals -- but it's not like he just abused Flynn or anything.

(You can tell Flynn has borrowed from Paul's game, particularly on the pick and roll, where Paul leans in to the recovering defender to keep him on his back. Flynn does the same thing, although he needs to work on protecting the ball better and making quicker decisions.)

I thought Kurt Rambis would've gone to his two-point-guard lineup with Flynn and Ramon Sessions when the Bees went small with Paul and rookie Darren Collison. Wayne Ellington was having the best game of his rookie season, however, so it's understandable that Rambis wanted to ride him.

Last night marked the return of Kevin Love to the Timberwolves' lineup, and the difference is easy to see. Love had a double-double, and Al Jefferson had his best game in a while.