HORNETS 106, TRAIL BLAZERS 94
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) _ Nicolas Batum scored 33 points, Al Jefferson added 29 and Charlotte held off a fourth-quarter rally to beat Portland.
Kemba Walker added 14 points and Jeremy Lamb had 13 for the Hornets, who led 71-45 at halftime and by as many as 29 points midway through the third quarter.
But the Trail Blazers began cutting into Charlotte’s lead in the fourth quarter, pulling within 98-92 on Ed Davis’ layup with 2:58 remaining.
Charlotte responded with an 8-0 run, getting two free throws each by Walker and Batum and two baskets by Jefferson to push the lead back to double digits in winning its third straight home game.
Damian Lilliard had 23 points, Allen Crabbe 17 and CJ McCollum 16 for Portland, which lost its fifth straight.
Alwin Marshall-Squire is the Editor-in-Chief of S-Q Publications Inc., overseeing editorial strategy for GTA Weekly, GTA Today, and Vision Newspaper. He leads the publications’ mission to deliver bold, original journalism focused on the people and communities of the Greater Toronto Area, Canada, and the global Caribbean diaspora.
Also writes for GTA Weekly and GTA Today.