Poor-shooting Hornets get past Pistons
CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- Kemba Walker scored 25 points, including 14 in the fourth quarter, and the Charlotte Hornets ground out an ugly 87-77 win over the Detroit Pistons on Wednesday night at the Spectrum Center.
The Hornets shot just 34.1 percent from the field (30 of 88). However, they committed only five turnovers all night and made 16 more free throws than the visitors, going 21 of 29 from the line to Detroit's 5 of 8.
Charlotte gained a bit of revenge after the Pistons rolled to a 112-89 win at Spectrum Center eight days earlier.
The Hornets (13-9) also got 14 points and 15 rebounds from Nicolas Batum. Marco Belinelli scored 13, and Marvin Williams added 12.
Detroit shot just 38.2 percent (34 of 89) from the field and was just 4 of 27 from 3-point range.
Pistons center Andre Drummond had a monster game with 26 points and 20 rebounds, but Tobias Harris with 14 points and Reggie Jackson with 10 points were the only other Detroit players in double figures.
Charlotte's 10-point lead at the end was the biggest lead of the night.
Detroit (12-12) led 39-38 at halftime. The Hornets shot just 26.5 percent from the field in the half (13 of 49), and the Pistons were at 37.8 percent (17 of 45.) Drummond already had a double-double by halftime with 10 points and 13 rebounds.
Charlotte led 61-58 after three quarters.
NOTES: Hornets F Marvin Williams returned after missing the previous six games with a hyperextended knee. Charlotte went 4-2 in his absence. ... The Hornets assigned G Aaron Harrison and F Christian Wood to Greensboro of the NBDL on Wednesday. It was the third time this season that Harrison was sent down. ... The Pistons were coming off a 102-91 win over Chicago on Tuesday. ... Pistons G Reggie Jackson was playing his first back-to-back series of the season after missing the first 21 games while rehabbing a knee injury. ... The Pistons lead the NBA in fewest turnovers, averaging 11.6, and the Hornets are second in the league at 11.9. ... The Hornets have committed the fewest number of fouls in the NBA, averaging 17.0 per game. They haven't had a player foul out all season. ... The Hornets were coming off a 109-101 win at Dallas on Monday. ... The Hornets will host Orlando on Friday. ... The Pistons will play at Minnesota on Friday.