By Sam Perley, hornets.com
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ResultThanks to a stellar fourth-quarter performance, the Hornets were able to kick off their seven-game homestand with a key 108-101 victory over the visiting Indiana Pacers on Friday, March 4, in Charlotte. The third-consecutive win for the Hornets was largely fueled by 64 combined points from Kemba Walker and Nicolas Batum, who helped Charlotte clinch its first season sweep over the Pacers in franchise history. Paul George scored a game-high 35 points for Indiana in the loss.
Turning PointsTrailing by two at the end of the third quarter, the Hornets used a 21-8 run to open the fourth and take a 101-90 lead over the Pacers with 4:39 remaining in the game. Following a timeout, Indiana managed to cut the lead down to 103-97 with a little over two minutes remaining in the frame but the Hornets knocked down all but one of their six free throws down the stretch to close out the game. In the fourth quarter alone, the Hornets outscored Indiana, 28-19 and connected on 10-of-20 attempts from the field (50.0 percent) while the Pacers knocked down just 5-of-18 shots (27.8 percent).
Inside the Box ScoreKemba Walker led the Hornets in both scoring (33 points) and assists (10) for his second double-double of the season… Nicolas Batum exploded for 31 points, seven rebounds, four assists and two blocks… Walker and Batum are the first Hornets teammates to each score 30-or-more points in the same game since March 27, 2013… Al Jefferson tallied 13 points, four rebounds, two steals and two blocks in 21 minutes off the bench… Cody Zeller chipped in four points and a team-high 11 boards, which is his eighth double-digit rebounding game of the season… Paul George notched a game-high 35 points, seven rebounds, a team-high seven assists and a game-high five steals… Monta Ellis added 15 points, three rebounds, four assists and two steals… George Hill notched 12 points, seven rebounds and two assists… Ian Mahinmi recorded his seventh double-double of the season, finishing with 12 points and a game high and career-high-tying 14 rebounds… Indiana edged out Charlotte on the boards, 46-41, which included a 12-7 advantage in offensive rebounds… The Hornets hit on 13-of-31 of three-point attempts (41.9 percent) while the Pacers made just 9-of-28 shots from behind the arc (32.1 percent)… This is the 36th game of the season in which Charlotte has made 10-or-more three-pointers, which is tied with the Houston Rockets for second-most in the NBA.
Hornets Player of the GameCharlotte got another phenomenal performance from Kemba Walker as he finished with a team-high 33 points, two rebounds and a game-high 10 assists for his second double-double of the season, both of which have come against Indiana in the last five games. Walker is just the fifth player (first since Raymond Felton on March 22, 2006) to record 30-or-more points and 10-or-more assists in a game in franchise history.
Pacers Player of the GamePaul George put together a big outing with a game-high 35 points, seven rebounds, a team-high seven assists and a game-high five steals for the Pacers in the loss. This is George’s team-high 19th game of the season with 30-or-more points although Indiana is just 8-11 in these contests.
Game NotesSpencer Hawes (back) did not play for Charlotte… C.J. Miles (calf) was sidelined for the Pacers… With the victory, Hornets head coach Steve Clifford tied Dave Cowens for third-most wins in franchise history (109)… Walker also joined Al Jefferson (2013-14) as the only Hornets players in the last five seasons to score 30-or-more points in a game 10 times in a single season.
Next Up The Hornets play host to the Minnesota Timberwolves at 7 p.m. on Monday, March 7 in Charlotte. This game can be seen on FOX Sports Southeast or heard on WFNZ or on the official Charlotte Hornets mobile app.
Kemba Walker Postgame Twinterview
Following the win against the Indiana Pacers, the Hornets Kemba Walker sat down to answer your Twitter questions for a post game “Twinterview"