Elden Campbell scored 19 points and Baron Davis added 18 points and 10 assists as the Hornets extended their winning streak to three games with a 97-79 victory over Memphis.
 Elden Campbell looks to drive against Stromile Swift in Memphis. Joe Murphy/NBAE/Getty Images |
Despite the distraction, Charlotte is trying to make a run at the playoffs in its final season and has climbed back to .500 for the first time since it was 11-11 on December 13.
Stromile Swift scored 13 points off the bench and rookie Shane Battier chipped in 12 for the Grizzlies, who have lost 10 of their last 11 games.
"I thought it was a poor effort out there today," Memphis coach Sidney Lowe said. "We had not energy and were terrible on defense. We didn't have our legs."
The Hornets were clinging to a 48-45 lead just 1:13 into the third before Campbell nailed two jumpers during a 12-3 run.
Davis, P.J. Brown and George Lynch added jump shots during the burst and Lee Nailon capped it with a short jumper to give the Charlotte a 60-47 cushion with 7:06 left.
Battier scored five straight points and Grant Long's jumper with 3:12 remaining brought the Grizzlies within 67-62.
But Davis responded with his only 3-pointer to spark an 8-0 run and the Hornets took a 75-62 lead on Nailon's 19-footer with 33 seconds remaining.
Swift closed the third quarter with a three-point play but Charlotte scored eight of the fourth period's first 11 points and had its largest lead when time expired.
Brown scored 15 points and Jamaal Magloire added 13 points and 10 rebounds for the Hornets, who had six players reach double figures and committed only seven turnovers.
Lynch scored 12 points and Nailon added 12 and a career-high seven assists.
Charlotte outscored Memphis, 34-26 in the paint and saw its starting frontcourt of Brown, Lynch and Campbell combine to make 18-of-27 shots and 10-of-12 free throws.
"I give (the Hornets) a lot of credit," Long said. "It had a lot to do with their pressure. We were not able to run our offense and we were taken out of our comfort spots. It's largely a credit to their defense."
Long scored 11 points on 4-of-11 shooting and rookie Pau Gasol made just 3-of-7 shots for 10 points as Memphis shot 46 percent (29-of-63) but committed 20 turnovers leading to 19 points for Charlotte.