Hornets 109, Raptors 99
CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- Guard Jeremy Lin stepped into the starting lineup and scored a season-high 35 points, and the Charlotte Hornets pulled out a 109-99 overtime victory over the Toronto Raptors on Thursday night.
Lin started in place of Nicolas Batum, who missed the game due to illness, and finished 13 of 22 from the field. He was 8 of 9 from the field in scoring 18 first-half points.
The Hornets (15-10) snapped a two-game losing streak and won for the fifth time in their last seven games. They led by 12 at halftime and 16 in the third quarter before the Raptors put on a furious rally in the final three minutes to force overtime.
Guard Kemba Walker added 27 points, guard P.J. Hairston scored 14, and forward Marvin Williams had 10 points and 10 rebounds.
The Raptors forced overtime by scoring the last seven points of regulation. They tied it at 90-90 on guard DeMar DeRozan's 18-footer with 25.8 seconds left, then forced a Walker turnover in the final three seconds. DeRozan actually hit a 35-footer that could have won the game, but the Raptors had called time out with 0.7 remaining, before the shot.
Hairston's 3-pointer with 1:30 remaining in overtime gave the Hornets the lead for good at 99-96, and the Hornets wound up outscoring Toronto 13-3 over the final 90 seconds.
The Raptors (16-11) shot just 36.1 percent from the field, with guard Kyle Lowery going six for 29 from the field and three for 17 from 3-point range. DeRozan led the Raptors with 31 points, forward Terrence Ross scored 17, and center Bismack Biyombo had eight points, 18 rebounds and seven blocked shots.
The Hornets led 25-20 after one quarter, 56-44 at halftime, and 77-65 after three quarters. It was 90-90 at the end of regulation.
NOTES: The Hornets were without G Nicolas Batum, who exited a 113-98 loss at Orlando on Wednesday because of illness. ... Hornets C Al Jefferson served the second game of a five-game NBA suspension. He will be eligible to return for the Dec. 26 home game against Memphis. Jefferson previously missed six straight games with a strained calf. ... The Raptors continue to be without C Jonas Valanciunas (fractured hand) and F DeMarre Carroll (knee). ... The Raptors were coming off a 106-90 loss at Indiana on Monday when they blew a 21-point lead. They came straight to Charlotte and spent Tuesday and Wednesday practicing here. ... The Hornets were playing their fourth back-to-back of the season after losing at Orlando Wednesday. They led the NBA in back-to-backs last season with 22 but this season they play only 15. ... Toronto G DeMar DeRozan came into the game 10th in the NBA in scoring at 21.7. He was named the Eastern Conference Player of the Week on Monday. ... The Hornets will hit the road for two games, at Washington on Saturday and at Houston on Monday. ... The Raptors will close out this three-game road trip Friday at Miami.