Wesley's 3-pointer snapped a tie and triggered a 13-1 run that gave the Hornets an 88-76 lead with 1:59 remaining. He added a basket and two free throws during that stretch.
The 6-1 guard matched a season high in points. He made 7-of-13 shots, including 4-of-5 3-pointers, and 8-of-10 free throws.
"I needed a game like this," Wesley said. "It was one of those games where you feel in sync out there on the court the whole game."
 Baron Davis shot a miserable seven-for-21, but he dished out 11 assists to make up for it. |
"We also took advantage of their inexperience," Wesley said. "Some of their guys started to do some 1-on-1 stuff and really didn't recognize open shots by their teammates. That's just inexperience."
"We talked about that," Bulls coach Bill Cartwright said. "We did not share the ball enough. That was disappointing. Also, our guards did not get back on a couple of possessions."
Baron Davis had 16 points and 11 assists for the Hornets, who won on the road for the first time since December 19 at Philadelphia. Overall, Charlotte has won four of its last five games.
Ron Artest scored 22 points and Marcus Fizer added 16 and 10 rebounds for the Bulls, who were coming off a stunning overtime win over the two-time defending champion Los Angeles Lakers.
In that game Saturday, Bulls big men Brad Miller and Charles Oakley were involved in a fight with Shaquille O'Neal and were given suspensions. Both sat out this game and Miller must miss another contest.
"We gave up more layups today than we have since coach Cartwright took over," Bulls guard Kevin Ollie said. "We missed our interior defense without the big guys."
A 3-pointer by Greg Anthony, who had nine points and 11 assists, pulled Chicago into a 75-75 tie with 7:40 remaining. Wesley hit a 3-pointer and layup around a jumper by Davis, making it 82-75 with 5:02 left.
Fizer made a free throw, but Jamaal Magloire and Wesley hit two each around a jumper by Davis, giving Charlotte a 12-point lead. The Hornets made 6-of-8 free throws in the final 36 seconds to hold on and beat the Bulls for the 11th time in the last 12 meetings.
"We rotated well and getting each others' back covered defensively," Davis said. "I think we extended our pressure late in the game and they tried to go fast to beat it."
Elden Campbell scored 13 points and Magloire added 12 off the bench for the Hornets, who shot 46 percent (33-of-72) and held a 44-39 rebounding edge.
Ron Mercer scored 12 points for the Bulls, who shot 41.5 percent (34-of-82).
Receiving most of the minutes for Miller and Oakley were teenage rookie 7-footers Eddy Curry and Tyson Chandler. Curry started at center and had eight points and five rebounds in 22 minutes. Chandler played 27 minutes off the bench but had just one point and three rebounds.
Both teams welcomed back players who have been sidelined for some time. Forward George Lynch returned for the Hornets and played five scoreless minutes in his first game of the season. Swingman Eddie Robinson, a former Hornet who missed the last 26 games with with a toe injury, had five points in 11 minutes for the Bulls.