CHARLOTTE, NC, Jan. 23 (Ticker) -- David Wesley led six players in double figures with 21 points and hit a clutch 3-pointer as the Charlotte Hornets built a big first-half lead and held on to defeat the Seattle SuperSonics, 111-101.

After Seattle whittled a 71-44 deficit late in the second quarter to 98-94 on a finger roll from Vin Baker with 3:42 remaining, Elden Campbell hit 1-of-2 free throws and Wesley hit his fourth 3-pointer of the contest to make it 102-94 with 2:34 left.

Seattle got no closer than eight points thereafter.

"I didn't think we moved the ball well in the second half," Charlotte coach Paul Silas said. "We had a whole lot of possessions where it was one shot and done, and we seemed to be out of sync for the whole quarter. At the end we picked it back up, started defending and made key stops that sealed the game."

NBA.comTV highlights from Sonics-Hornets: 56k | 300k P.J. Brown was one of six Hornets in double figures, and was a huge plus on both ends of the court. Garrett W. Ellwood NBAE/Getty Images

Baron Davis had 20 points, 11 assists and nine rebounds for Charlotte, which won its second straight game. Lee Nailon tallied 19 points -- all in the first half -- and Campbell added 17 and 11 rebounds for the Hornets.

"I'm disappointed in the way we finished the game," Davis said. "But a win is a win. We needed some defensive stops at the end and we got them. We went down low to Elden and he came up big. He did a great job of getting to the foul line."

Campbell was 7-of-11 from the line for Charlotte, which made 22-of-29 free throws. Aside from Baker, who was 10-of-13, the entire Seattle lineup was just 2-of-3 at the line.

Charlotte led just 30-28 after one quarter but shot 71 percent (15-of-21) in the second period to take a 71-46 lead at the break.

Nailon was 9-of-11 to lead the Hornets, who shot 60 percent (28-of-47) overall and posted the most points in a half on the SuperSonics this season. It was also the most points the Hornets had scored in a half this campaign.

The Hornets' 41 second-quarter points were their most in any period this season and the most the Sonics had allowed.

"We played so free in the first half," Wesley said. "It was nice to get out and score on them."

But Charlotte shot just 26 percent (5-of-19) in the third quarter and had its lead trimmed to 85-71 entering the final period.

The Hornets led 92-77 before Seattle reserve Shammond Williams scored 10 points during a 13-2 run midway through the quarter. He finished the burst with his second 3-pointer with 6:06 to go to get the Sonics within 94-90.

"I'd rather have two points and get the win," Williams said. "I do what it takes to get wins."

"I want 48 minutes of basketball -- two quarters isn't enough to win," Seattle coach Nate McMillan said. "We should come out like we did in the second half. We played with intensity in the second half, we played defense, we rebounded the ball, but the hill was too high and we ran out of gas."

Baker and Gary Payton tallied 24 points apiece and Rashard Lewis added 22 for Seattle, which had a two-game winning streak snapped and fell to 1-1 on its four-game eastern road trip.

"I think the main thing we need to work on is putting teams away," said Charlotte forward P.J. Brown, who had 14 points and nine rebounds. "We came out relaxed in the third quarter and they kept coming. We were fortunate to get some key plays both defensively and offensively."

Although Seattle outscored Charlotte 56-44 in the paint, it was outrebounded 47-25.

"I actually thought we were going to win," Baker said. "We didn't play like we wanted, we got down, but we picked up in the second half. We talked at (the) half about having to go the boards and pick it up defensively. It's always disheartening to lose. We definitely had a chance to win."