Karl-Anthony Towns scores Timberwolves record 62 in loss - ESPN

MINNEAPOLIS — Karl-Anthony Towns scored a franchise-record 62 points, including 44 in the first half, but the Charlotte Hornets erased an 18-point deficit and stunned the Minnesota Timberwolves 128-125 on Monday night.

Towns topped his previous career best of 60, which was also the Minnesota record.

However, Towns managed just four points on 2-for-10 shooting in the fourth quarter, when the Timberwolves were outscored 36-18. He thought he was fouled on a drive to the basket in the closing seconds and Minnesota trailing by one, then was short on a 3-point attempt on the final possession.

Towns finished 21 for 35 from the floor, including 10 for 15 from 3-point range, and now owns the top three scoring outputs in the Wolves' 35-year history.

The Wolves ran an isolation look for Towns with 12 seconds left, but Leaky Black blocked his driving layup attempt then hit a pair of free throws at the other end.

Towns' desperation 3 inside the final second ensured the 21st time in NBA history a player has scored 60 or more points in a loss.

In the first half, Towns was 14 for 17 from the field and 8 of 9 from 3-point range as the Wolves took a 69-64 lead. The eight 3-pointers in a half were two shy of the NBA record. The NBA record for points in a first half is shared by David Thompson and George Gervin with 53.

Miles Bridges scored 28 points and Brandon Miller had 27 for the Hornets, who had lost seven of their past eight games and had the Eastern Conference's third-worst mark entering Monday.