Kaminsky sparks Hornets past Magic
ORLANDO, Fla. -- Reserve forward Frank Kaminsky scored 18 points, including 13 in the decisive fourth quarter, in sparking the Charlotte Hornets to a 109-102 victory over the Orlando Magic on Wednesday night at the Amway Center.
The Hornets (32-39) won their third consecutive game and kept their slim playoff hopes alive. The Magic (26-46) lost to the Hornets for the fourth time this season.
Kemba Walker led the Hornets with 22 points and added seven assists. Reserve Marco Belinelli scored 20 points, including 16 in a five-minute, second quarter stretch.
Charlotte center Cody Zeller scored 15 points. Marvin Williams had seven points and a team-high 10 rebounds. Nicolas Batum contributed 10 points.
Terrence Ross led the Magic with 19 points. Nikola Vucevic had 14 points, a game-high 12 rebounds and eight assists. Elfrid Payton amassed 15 points, five rebounds and five assists. Evan Fournier had 15 points, and reserve Jodie Meeks scored 10.
Kaminsky sealed the victory by hitting three 3-pointers in the fourth period. He scored eight consecutive points -- including back-to-back 3-pointers -- midway in the fourth, giving the Hornets their first lead, 90-89, of the second half. His third 3-pointer of the period gave the Hornets a 99-94 lead.
Vucevic scored 10 points in the third quarter, and the Magic took a five-point lead into the final period. Ross and Aaron Gordon hit back-to-back 3-pointers midway in the third to build a 67-57 lead, their biggest of the game.
The Magic led, 54-48, at halftime when 10 of their players scored and all played at least eight minutes.
Belinelli blistered the Magic for 16 points in the first five minutes of the second quarter, quickly turning a six-point deficit into a five-point lead. He hit three 3-pointers, three free throws and a pair of short jumpers in an impressive shooting display.
The Magic, though, quickly recovered and led by as many as eight points later in the period. Ross led the Magic with 11 points in the first two periods.
NOTES: Hornets coach Steve Clifford said before the game that Michael Jordan, team owner, scoffs at the recent trend around the league of resting healthy players during the regular season. "(Jordan) doesn't understand it. Nor does (assistant coach) Patrick Ewing. Their thing is, that's why you play. You train all year to play those 82 games." ... The Hornets beat the Magic in all three previous meetings this season, by an average of 26.7 points while making 54 percent of their shots. ... They dominated around the basket early Wednesday, scoring 18 of their first 21 points from inside the lane. ... The Hornets have struggled in close games throughout this season, going 0-9 in games decided by three points or less. ... Magic reserve Jeff Green missed the game Wednesday because of back spasms, and his playing time went to G/F Mario Hezonja. ... Less than three minutes into the game Wednesday, Magic G Evan Fournier hit a 3-pointer, giving his franchise 810 consecutive games with at least one 3-pointer, dating back to March 17, 2011.