Total Team Effort Leads Bobcats to Opening Night Win
By David Walters
bobcats.com
December 26, 2011
Video: Paul Silas | D.J. Augustin | Gerald Henderson | Kemba Walker | Corey Maggette | Byron Mullens | NBA Game Recap
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D.J. Augustin led five Bobcats scoring in double figures with 19 points to go with eight assists as the Charlotte Bobcats got a total team effort to beat the Milwaukee Bucks, 96-95, in the season opener for both teams on December 26 at Time Warner Cable Arena®.
Down 41-52 at halftime, Charlotte overcame a sluggish first half and outscored the Bucks 30-14 in the third quarter to take a 71-66 lead into the final frame. Clutch play from Augustin and rookie Kemba Walker, who scored 13 points to go with seven rebounds in his first NBA regular-season game, were crucial down the stretch as the Bobcats hung on for the win.
"I just came in and I just brought the energy," said Walker. "I thought we lacked energy (early on), and the crowd started to get into it and everyone else started to get into it. We just started to have fun out there and we came together. That's the kind of team we're going to have to be – we're going to have to have fun, play hard and play together."
The hometown crowd played a part as they got behind their Bobcats and went crazy as the teams exchanged leads in the final minutes of the game.
“(The crowd) was great. The fans were with us,” Head Coach Paul Silas said. “It really elevates the guys when they hear the crowd and the crowd is in it. (The crowd) didn’t have much to be happy with in the first half, but in the second half, when we started playing well they really got in the game.”
Augustin's toughness and Walker's clutch shooting helped Charlotte ice the game in the final moments. After spraining his ankle when he got fouled with 20 seconds remaining, Augustin stepped up to hit 1 of 2 free throws before leaving with the injury.
Walker then got fouled after a huge rebound on the next Bucks possession and put the game away by hitting both free throws with nine seconds remaining to give the Bobcats a four-point lead. Brandon Jennings hit a 3-pointer at the buzzer, but it wasn't enough as the Bobcats opened the season 1-0.
Boris Diaw played an excellent all-around game, narrowly missing a triple-double with nine points, 11 rebounds, and nine assists to go with two blocks. Gerald Henderson also had a strong game for the Bobcats with 18 points and nine rebounds.
“We were getting out and running and really making them defend,” Henderson said. “D.J. was getting in there and hitting shots, driving and kicking and that lead to more open shots.”
Corey Maggette had 12 points against his former squad, including a monster alley-oop from Augustin. The Bobcats most recent addition, Byron Mullens, scored 10 points off the bench, shooting the ball with confidence.
“It’s great to have that kind of confidence from coach,” said Mullens. “He tells me to shoot it, just keep shooting it and for us on the team its awesome because we’ve got a lot of threats on the team and we just need to spread out the defense.”
Brandon Jennings led the Bucks with 22 points and Andrew Bogut had 17 points to go with nine rebounds.
The win spoiled the return of ex-Bobcats Stephen Jackson who fouled out of the game with six points. Another former Bobcats, Shaun Livingston, had a strong game off the bench for the Bucks with 14 points and six rebounds.
Game notes: X-rays on Augustin’s ankle were negative, and he will be listed as day-to-day… Tyrus Thomas missed the game while recovering from a mild left ankle sprain… DJ White started in his place and had eight points and five rebounds… Reggie Williams and Eddie Najera were also listed on the injury report as they recover from their respective knee surgeries… Bucks forward Drew Gooden was ejected in the third quarter after a flagrant foul on Henderson… The Bobcats outrebounded the Bucks 52-39… The home team has won the matchup between these two teams the last 11 games.
The Bobcats will play their second of three-straight home games against the Miami Heat on Wednesday at 7:00 p.m. at Time Warner Cable Arena. Catch all the action on SportSouth, listen to us on WFNZ and join the live chat on bobcats.com.