The Hornets (6-6) were able to hold on for a 116-111 victory against the Nets (2-10) at Time Warner Cable Arena on Wednesday.
With the score tied 86-86 after the third quarter, Nets coach Lionel Hollins decided to roll with a small lineup featuring Shane Larkin, Jarrett Jack, Markel Brown and Joe Johnson. It backfired, as the Hornets were able to take an eight-point lead and would eventually hold on for the win. Nic Batum led the way for Charlotte, scoring 24 points (7-12 FG, 3-6 3Pt, 7-7 FT) while matching his season high of eight assists. Brooklyn had a chance to win its second straight game, but instead fell further behind in the Eastern Conference standings.
Perhaps the difference in the game was the rebounding battle, which the Nets lost 49 to 37 while playing mediocre defense after holding the Hawks to 88 points in Tuesday's win. Brook Lopez was limited to just five rebounds, shooting 8-of-19 from the floor before fouling out in the fourth quarter. Thad Young, who posted a season-high 27 points (11-17 FG, 0-1 3Pt, 5-6 FT), scored 15 of his 27 in the third quarter to keep the Hornets from running away with the game. Jack nearly finished with a triple-double, pouring in 16 points with nine assists and eight rebounds over 33 minutes.
Charlotte got contributions from everywhere Wednesday night, as seven players finished with double-digit scoring. The guard tandem of Kemba Walker and Jeremy Lin continues to work wonders for coach Steve Clifford, with Walker netting 18 points to go along with seven assists and seven rebounds. Lin came off the bench and scored 13 points over a season-high 29 minutes, pulling down nine rebounds and dishing out four assists for perhaps his most productive game of the season. The Hornets clearly feed off the home crowd, improve to 4-1 at TWC Arena this season.
The Nets travel to Boston to face the Celtics on Friday; the Hornets continue a seven-game homestand against the 76ers.
