The Charlotte Hornets just might be the NBA's most enigmatic team: Better road record than the Sacramento Kings, worse home record than the Chicago Bulls. Go figure.

The Timberwolves had that in their favor, then, in their 97-92 victory over the Hornets on Monday night at the sparsely filled Charlotte Coliseum.

Yet the Wolves were a little puzzling, too, considering that they let the Hornets shoot 51.4 percent -- nearly 57 percent through three quarters. That was trouble, because Minnesota hardly ever wins when getting outshot. How hardly? Think 1-14 when that happens, at least until Monday.

So what was the difference this time? Rebounds. Rebounds. And still more rebounds.

Look at it this way: The Wolves dominated the boards, 47-28. Of the 40 available rebounds at the basket they were attacking, the Wolves grabbed 18. That's 45 percent, compared to a league average of 29 percent.

It was even more tilted at the other end. Of the 35 available rebounds at the basket the Wolves were defending, they claimed 29. That's 83 percent, when the league average is 71 percent.