Raptors 95, Hornets 84
RAPTORS 95, HORNETS 84: Linas Kleiza scored 21 points off the bench as Toronto rode a big fourth quarter to its first road victory in a month.
Kleiza connected on five 3-pointers to pace the Raptors, whose last road victory came Jan. 29 in New Jersey. Toronto had dropped its last four games away from the Air Canada Centre, but outscored the Hornets 33-15 in the pivotal final quarter Wednesday night.
Former Raptors swingman Marco Belinelli led the way with 20 points for the Hornets, who fell to a Western Conference-worst 3-15 at home.
Toronto shot nearly 50 percent in the first half en route to a five-point advantage, but that dead-eye shooting abandoned the Raptors in the third quarter. They hit just four of 21 attempts in the frame as the Hornets outscored them 23-11 to open up a seven-point lead entering the fourth.
Toronto rediscovered its shooting touch to open the final period, scoring seven straight points to even the score. Leandro Barbosa put the Raptors back in front on a driving layup with 7:05 remaining, DeMar DeRozan followed suit less than a minute and a half later and Toronto never trailed again.
DeRozan had a strong all-around game for Toronto, pouring in 21 points and adding six rebounds and four assists.
GAME NOTEBOOK: The Hornets shot just 1 for 7 from beyond the arc in the opening half. Toronto went 4 for 5 from outside over that span. ... Among those in attendance was film star Samuel L. Jackson, a noted Raptors fan. ... Hornets C Chris Kaman had 17 points and 10 rebounds for his third consecutive double-double.