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Walker keys Hornets win over Pelicans

Jan 8, 2015 - 4:37 AM Charlotte, NC (SportsNetwork.com) - Kemba Walker scored nine of Charlotte's last 10 points to lead the Hornets to a 98-94 comeback win over the New Orleans Pelicans on Wednesday.

Walker totaled 31 points, giving him his third 30-point game in a row for the Hornets, who have won all three. Gerald Henderson added 16 points, and Michael Kidd-Gilchrist chipped in 13 points and 12 rebounds.

Anthony Davis had 32 points, 12 rebounds and four blocks for the Pelicans, who have lost three of their last four. New Orleans led by as much as 13 in the second half but could not hang on.

The Pelicans also got 16 points, nine assists and six rebounds from Jrue Holiday, and Eric Gordon contributed 14 points.

Brian Roberts' triple on the opening possession of the fourth quarter tied the game for the first time since late in the first, but Davis' dunk on the other end put the Pelicans back in front.

For the next 4 1/2 minutes, neither team led by more than two until a 6-0 Hornets run capped by Jason Maxiell's jumper put Charlotte ahead 84-79 with 6:25 left.

The Hornets ran their lead up to as many as eight points, but after Davis scored the next five, Gordon's 3 with 1:59 to go tied the game.

Coming out of a timeout with 23 seconds remaining, Walker hit a fadeaway jumper over Davis to put Charlotte up 94-92. Davis' layup tied the game on the other end, but that left too much time for Walker.

With seconds remaining, the Hornets went up again on an acrobatic shot from Walker. He drove to the basket, pulled up for a jumper and hit the shot despite contact from Holiday. His free throw completed the three-point play to give Charlotte a 97-94 lead with 1.4 seconds left.

The Hornets stole the inbounds pass to seal the win.

"I was just trying to make a play," said Walker. "Time was running down, and I was just trying to get as far as I can to the basket."

The first quarter was controlled by the Pelicans. New Orleans scored the first six points of the game and led 27-20 after one thanks to a three-point play by Davis with 20 seconds to go in the quarter.

The Hornets tightened up their defense in the second period and limited New Orleans to 35 percent shooting. After Davis' turnaround jumper with 2:24 to go in the half put the Pelicans up 10, Walker scored the final five points of the quarter for the Hornets as New Orleans led 48-41 at halftime.

After Gordon's 3-pointer with 6:35 to go in the third gave the Pelicans a 13- point lead, Charlotte started a 10-0 run with eight points from Henderson to pull within three.

"We just fell apart," said Pelicans coach Monty Williams. "We didn't share the ball, the thing we've been talking about. Especially down the stretch, the ball just stuck."

Walker closed the third with four straight points to cut Charlotte's deficit to 70-67 after three.

Game Notes

Roberts scored 10 off the bench ... Tyreke Evans scored 10 points and had seven boards for New Orleans ... The Pelicans shot 6-of-18 from beyond the arc, and the Hornets made 4-of-14 ... Each team had 43 rebounds, 40 points in the paint and 11 second-chance points.