Hawks 94, Hornets 92
CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- Forward Kent Bazemore led a balanced attack with 20 points, and the Atlanta Hawks beat the Charlotte Hornets for the second time in three days with a 94-92 victory Sunday afternoon.
The Hawks took the lead for good on forward Paul Millsap's 3-pointer with 40.7 seconds left for a 92-89 lead. The Hawks then held on at the end as Charlotte guard Kemba Walker missed a 12-footer at the buzzer that could have forced overtime.
The Hawks had rallied from a seven-point deficit midway through the fourth quarter with a 10-0 run.
The Hawks (3-1) also defeated the Hornets 97-94 in Atlanta Friday night, and the Hawks have now won three straight after a season-opening loss to Detroit.
Guard Jeff Teague added 18 points and six assists for the Hawks. Center Al Horford had 16 points and 12 rebounds, and Millsap had 16 points, six rebounds and six assists.
The Hornets (0-3) had won their previous four home openers.
Walker finished with 17 points, six rebounds and six assists for the Hornets. They also got 16 points from guard Nicolas Batum, 15 points from forward Marvin Williams -- including two 3-pointers in the final minute -- and 10 points and 10 rebounds from center Al Jefferson.
Millsap's 3-pointer made it 92-89, and after two Charlotte misses, Bazemore pushed the lead to 94-89 with 14.8 seconds left. The Hornets wouldn't go away. Williams' 3-pointer with 12.3 cut the margin to two, and the Hornets forced a jump ball on Atlanta's next possession.
Charlotte controlled the tip, and Walker found himself with a chance to force overtime, but missed.
The Hawks led 28-18 after one quarter and led by as many as 14 at 34-20 in the second quarter before settling for a 46-39 halftime lead. Charlotte then erupted for 37 third-quarter points and pulled out to a 76-70 lead after three quarters.
NOTES: The Hornets held a moment of silence for the late Flip Saunders before the start of the game. ... G Kyle Korver (ankle) returned to the Hawks' starting lineup after missing the win over the Hornets in Atlanta on Friday night. The Hawks also got C Mike Muscala (ankle) back. ... The Hornets' slow start comes after they went 7-1 in the preseason. ... Mike Budenholzer recorded his 100th career win in the Hawks' win over the Hornets on Friday. He accomplished the feat in 167 games, making him the second-fastest coach in franchise history to reach 100 wins, behind only Lenny Wilkens (166). ... Hornets G Kemba Walker came into the game leading the team in scoring at 16 ppg, but was shooting just 32.3 percent from the field and 22.1 percent from 3-point range. ... The Hawks had the best road record in the Eastern Conference last season, going a franchise-record 25-16. .. The Hornets have lost F Michael Kidd-Gilchrist (right shoulder surgery) for the entire season. G Troy Daniels returned after missing the first two games (hamstring). ... Sunday's game was the first of eight afternoon games the Hornets will play this season. ... The Hornets will return to action Tuesday night at home against Chicago. .. The Hawks will remain on the road for a game at Miami on Tuesday.