Hornets Hold Off Pelicans, NBA Scores

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Published on March 10 2016 6:30 am
Last Updated on March 10 2016 6:30 am

Kemba Walker said he hasn't felt this confident shooting the basketball since leading Connecticut to the national championship five years ago.

"I'm shooting it really well," Walker said.

Walker turned in his fourth straight 30-point game, pouring in 35 to help the Charlotte Hornets hold off the New Orleans Pelicans 122-113 on Wednesday night for their fifth straight win. He has scored at least 20 points in 12 of the last 13 games and the Hornets are 11-2 during that span.

Walker shot 9 of 18 from the field and had five 3-pointers, along with four clutch free throws down the stretch. He also added seven assists and seven rebounds for Charlotte (35-28).

"He's a different shooter," Hornets coach Steve Clifford said. "He's put so much work in and right now he's in such a rhythm."

Courtney Lee had 16 points and Nicolas Batum added 15 as all five Charlotte starters reached double figures in scoring midway through the third quarter.

"Kemba played great and made big plays for them," Pelicans coach Alvin Gentry said. "They're playing great basketball. Steve's done a great job of changing the way they play. They changed the way they usually play by spreading the floor and going small when Al (Jefferson) is not in there."

Charlotte's win overshadowed strong nights by Anthony Davis and Jrue Holiday.

Davis had 40 points and 13 rebounds, while Holiday scored a season-high 38 points for injury-plagued Pelicans, who have lost five of their last six games.


Wednesday, March 9 Scoreboard
    
Charlotte 122, New Orleans 113

Houston 118, Philadelphia 104
    
Boston 116, Memphis 96

Milwaukee 114, Miami 108

Detroit 102, Dallas 96

New York 128, Phoenix 97

Oklahoma City 120, Los Angeles 108

Cleveland 120, Sacramento 11
    
Golden State 115, Utah 94


Thursday, March 10 Schedule (All Times Central)

Atlanta at Toronto, 6:30 p.m.

Chicago at San Antonio, 7 p.m.

Phoenix at Denver, 8 p.m.

Cleveland at Los Angeles, 9:30 p.m.