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Walker powers Hornets over Bucks

Dec 24, 2014 - 8:19 AM Milwaukee, WI (SportsNetwork.com) - Kemba Walker poured in 27 points to lead the resurgent Charlotte Hornets to a fourth straight victory, a 108-101 decision over the Milwaukee Bucks at the Bradley Center.

Five other Charlotte players finished in double figures as the Hornets extended their season-best win streak, which followed a 2-14 stretch. Gerald Henderson chipped in 20 points, Al Jefferson had 12 along with nine rebounds and Marvin Williams went 4-of-5 from 3-point range in a 12-point effort off the bench.

"They're a good team," said Charlotte coach Steve Clifford. "They beat us up- and-down the floor, which we've been good at, but we are able to stay in there and make the plays we needed."

The Bucks dropped a seventh straight game to Charlotte despite a season-high 34 points from Brandon Knight. Khris Middleton and Giannis Antetokounmpo finished with 12 and 11, respectively, in the loss.

A strong finish carried the Hornets to this latest win. Charlotte was clinging to a one-point lead late in the third quarter before embarking on an 11-2 run, during which Williams buried a key triple and Walker netted the final four points to stake his team to an 86-76 advantage with 1:20 remaining in the period.

Knight got the Bucks back in it, however, accounting for all of Milwaukee's points during an 8-1 surge that cut an 11-point deficit with under three minutes left down to four. His trey with 25.9 seconds to go pulled the Bucks within 103-99.

Milwaukee came up empty on its next two possessions, though, and Henderson and Walker sealed the result by hitting 5-of-6 free throws in the closing moments.

"We didn't have any rhythm offensively," said Bucks head coach Jason Kidd. "We turned the ball over, we missed a lot of shots. Everytime we tried to make a run we turned it over and when you do that, it puts you behind the 8-ball and that's what happened tonight."

Charlotte was up by six just over three minutes into the second quarter when the Bucks put together their best run of the night, a 14-2 sequence led by the bench that opened up a 49-43 lead with 4:57 remaining in the half. The Hornets answered with six straight to pull even, but Knight's triple 2.4 seconds prior to the intermission had Milwaukee ahead 56-54 at the break.

An 8-0 push capped by a Henderson jumper gave Charlotte a 71-64 edge midway through the third quarter. However, 3-pointers by Knight and Jared Dudley ignited a 10-4 stretch that had Milwaukee trailing by just one with 3:47 left in the frame.

The Bucks had a 30-28 lead after one quarter behind 10 points from Knight, but the Hornets scored the first seven points of the second to pull in front.

Game Notes

Milwaukee forward Ersan Ilyasova returned from a nine-game absence due to a broken nose, scoring four points in 16-plus minutes ... The Hornets are averaging 107.8 points during their win streak, while Walker has scored at a 24.4 ppg clip over this last five games ... Knight's total was just three points shy of a career high set at the Lakers on Dec. 31, 2013 ... Charlotte ended 28-of-36 from the foul line while the Bucks were 15-of-20 from the stripe.