Lowry helps Raptors storm past Hornets
TORONTO --Kyle Lowry scored 21 points and broke a tie late in the fourth quarter as the Toronto Raptors overcame a 17-point disadvantage to defeat the Charlotte Hornets 90-85 on Wednesday night.
The victory ended a three-game losing streak by the Raptors (33-24) and was only their fifth in the past 16 games. The Hornets (24-32) lost four in a row and 11 of their past 12.
Norman Powell added 17 points for the Raptors, DeMarre Carroll recorded 13 points and 11 rebounds, Delon Wright scored 11, Jonas Valanciunas had 10 points and 11 rebounds, and DeMar DeRozan scored 10.
Frank Kaminsky led Charlotte with 27 points and Kemba Walker added 24 while Nicolas Batum had 10. Michael Kidd-Gilchrist registered six points and 14 rebounds for Charlotte.
The Raptors led by as many as 14 points during the first half and by three at halftime, but the Hornets took a 17-point lead into the fourth quarter after a third-quarter surge.
The Raptors opened the fourth quarter on a 20-2 run to take a one-point lead.
After the Raptors built a five-point lead with 3:45 to play, Walker scored the Hornets' first field goal of the fourth quarter to cut the lead to three points.
Kaminsky's 3-pointer with 1:54 to play tied the game before Lowry hit a jump shot and completed the three-point play, putting Toronto ahead for good.
Wright made a layup and Toronto led by five points.
Batum made a 3-pointer to cut the lead to two, but Carroll's 3-pointer with 7.4 seconds left returned the lead to five.
NOTES: Raptors F Serge Ibaka was not in the lineup Wednesday after being acquired Tuesday in a trade with the Orlando Magic for G/F Terrence Ross and a 2017 first-round draft pick. "I'm just going to try and bring my experience, my energy, my toughness," Ibaka said when he met the media before the game. ... Raptors F Patrick Patterson (left knee contusion) missed his sixth consecutive game. ... The Hornets were without C Miles Plumlee (strained right calf), who was injured Monday, and C/F Cody Zeller (sore quadriceps) who missed his third straight game and the ninth in the past 10. ... Charlotte continues its seven-game road trip Feb. 23 against the Detroit Pistons. ...The Raptors return after the All-Star break Feb. 24 against the Boston Celtics at the Air Canada Centre.