• Preview
• Recap
• Bleachers
• Game Tracker

Walker leads Bobcats to rare win against Nets

Nov 21, 2013 - 4:48 AM Charlotte, NC (SportsNetwork.com) - Kemba Walker made four 3-pointers, shot an efficient 12-of-20 from the field and sank the clinching free throws to lift the Charlotte Bobcats to a 95-91 victory over the struggling Brooklyn Nets.

The Bobcats caught the Nets at the right time in order to earn their first win in the series since Apr. 11, 2011 -- a span of seven consecutive losses.

They took advantage of Nets center Brook Lopez missing a third straight game by owning a 52-34 advantage in paint.

To make matters worse for the Nets, Deron Williams reinjured his ankle late in the second quarter when he stepped on Walker's foot and never returned.

The result was Brooklyn's sixth loss in its last seven games.

Walker led all scorers with 31 points while Gerald Henderson and Ramon Sessions each chipped in 13 to help snap Charlotte's two-game skid.

Andray Blatche went on a personal 8-0 run down the stretch to bring the Nets within striking distance and finished with a team-high 25 points. Joe Johnson and Alan Anderson put up 19 and 16 points, respectively, in the setback.

"We have to stay together and keep fighting," Blatche said. "We have to work harder."

Blatche scored off the offensive glass on back-to-back possessions down the stretch to bring the Nets within 93-87, and another putback from Blatche with 37.1 seconds to go made it a four-point game.

Charlotte's fifth straight empty possession gave the ball back to the Nets, and an easy two for Blatche off a nice pass from Paul Pierce cut the deficit to 93-91 with 12.1 seconds

Walker, though, sealed the outcome at foul line on the ensuing possession.

"It was a good night for me," Walker said. "Hopefully I can continue it."

It was a back-and-forth affair with Williams on the floor in the first half. The lead changed hands 14 times and the Bobcats went into the break holding a slim 53-50 edge.

With Williams in the locker room, the Bobcats took control.

A 13-0 Bobcats run in the early stages of the third, which featured eight points in the paint and a Walker 3-pointer, extended Charlotte's lead to 68-54 a little over five minutes into the quarter.

Brooklyn regrouped and scored the next eight points, but the momentum was short-lived. Walker drained his third triple of the quarter to make it a 16- point game in the final minute, and the Bobcats held a comfortable 83-70 lead entering the final stanza.

Game Notes

Williams had missed Brooklyn's previous two games with an ankle injury ... Lopez is also nursing an ankle injury ... The Nets fell to 1-6 on the road ... The Bobcats are 6-1 in games decided by six points or less ... The Bobcats were without forward Al Jefferson for a fourth straight game due to a bum ankle.