Hornets crush Magic 121-81
CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- Kemba Walker scored 23 points before sitting out the entire fourth quarter and the Charlotte Hornets continued their mastery of the Orlando Magic with a 121-81 victory on Friday night at the Spectrum Center.
The Hornets were in command throughout and led by as many as 42 points. They scored the first eight points of the game, led 44-24 two minutes into the second quarter and never trailed. It was their first wire-to-wire victory of the season.
The Hornets have now beaten the Magic three times this season by an average of 26.6 points and have won six straight in the past two seasons.
The Hornets (29-36) have won three of their last four.
Walker was 9 of 13 from the field and 5 of 8 on 3-pointers. The Hornets also got a monster game from Marvin Williams, who finished with 12 points and 18 rebounds.
Marco Belinelli scored 18 points, Nicolas Batum had 15 points and 10 rebounds, Brian Roberts scored 15, Christian Wood had 14 and Jeremy Lamb added 10.
The Magic (24-42) were led by Aaron Gordon with 20 points. Evan Fournier scored 14 and Mario Hezonja scored 11.
Elfrid Payton was unsuccessful in his bid for a third straight triple-double, finishing with eight points, two rebounds and 12 assists. He, too, sat out the entire fourth quarter because of the blowout.
The Hornets shot 59.5 percent from the field and were 10 of 21 from 3-point range.
Charlotte led 37-23 after one quarter, 58-40 at halftime and 88-62 after three quarters.
NOTES: The Hornets were short-handed with F Frank Kaminsky (sprained AC joint), C Miles Plumlee (calf), F Johnny O'Bryant (ankle) and G Ramon Sessions (knee) all out. ... The Magic were without G Jodie Meeks (thumb) and C Nikola Vucevic (Achilles). ... The Hornets won both previous games handily, 109-88 in Charlotte on Dec. 9 and 120-101 in Orlando on Dec. 28. The teams will meet again in Orlando on March 22. ... Magic C Bismack Biyombo was just 1 of 8 from the free throw line and F Terrence Ross went 0 of 5 from the field. ... The Magic were coming off a 98-91 win over Chicago on Wednesday. The Hornets were coming off a 108-101 loss at Miami on Wednesday. ... The Magic will return home to face Cleveland on Saturday. ... The Hornets were opening a three-game homestand. They'll host New Orleans on Saturday.