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Jackson's buzzer-beater caps Bobcats' comeback win

Feb 13, 2011 - 3:48 AM Atlanta, GA (Sports Network) - Stephen Jackson buried a jumper as time ran out to lift Charlotte over Atlanta, 88-86, and complete the largest comeback in Bobcats history.

Jackson, who finished with 32 points, got the ball with 5.6 seconds left in regulation and held for a final shot. His long turnaround jumper with two defenders in his face clinched the win after the Bobcats erased a 22-point deficit.

"I want every shot in the end," Jackson said. "If you know me, anything about me, I want the ball at the end. I don't mind taking the shot. Everybody on the team was telling me bring this home."

Shaun Livingston netted a season-high 22 points off the bench for the Bobcats, who snapped a two-game losing streak and won in Atlanta for the first time since January 19, 2007. Gerald Wallace added 16 points, 13 boards and seven assists in the win.

Josh Smith notched 28 points and six rebounds for the Hawks, who dropped both contests during their two-game homestand. Al Horford had 16 points and 10 rebounds, while Joe Johnson and Mike Bibby both had 11 points in the loss.

The Bobcats took a 75-74 lead on Jackson's free throw with 9:13 to go, their first lead since the opening minutes of the game. It remained close the rest of the way.

Trailing by three with three minutes left, Smith was fouled on a breakaway dunk and completed the three-point play to tie the game at 82.

Jackson drained two free throws and a jumper to go up 86-84 with 64 seconds remaining and then Horford's drive down the lane and layin knotted it right back up.

During Atlanta's last possession of the game, Johnson's fade away fell short with 8.9 ticks to go and Livingston corralled the rebound to set up Jackson's game-winning shot out of a timeout.

"Words can't describe it," Smith said of Charlotte's comeback "We played so well in that first half but couldn't finish it out.

"We gave Stephen Jackson an opportunity to really get involved in the game, which you really can't do with the guy that can shoot the ball and score the ball in so many ways."

The Bobcats overcame a 10-point deficit to tie the game at 27-27 after the first quarter. The second quarter started with a lengthy streak to set up the Bobcats' historic comeback.

The Hawks opened the frame with a 24-2 run that lasted more than nine minutes and Horford's layup gave Atlanta its biggest lead of the game at 51-29.

The Bobcats closed out the half with a 10-1 run to trail 52-39 at the break.

Atlanta had a costly five-minute scoring drought in the third quarter that allowed Charlotte to get back into the game with 14 straight points.

Jackson's three-point play ended the spurt and put the Bobcats within four, 70-66, with 1:26 remaining in the third. Following that, the teams traded baskets for a 72-68 score after three quarters.

Game Notes

Charlotte had lost seven straight and eight of its last nine at Atlanta...Wallace was three assists shy of a triple-double...The Bobcats made 57.1 percent of their shots in the third, while finishing the game making 42.3 percent from the field.