Hornets 98, Magic 90
Kemba Walker scored 12 of his 30 points in the fourth quarter and tallied seven rebounds and six assists as visiting Charlotte held off a second-half charge from Orlando to snap a five-game losing streak.
Michael Kidd-Gilchrist collected 17 points and 12 rebounds for the Hornets, who won for the first time in three meetings with the Magic this season. Gary Neal added 16 points off the bench and Cody Zeller contributed 12 points for Charlotte.
Victor Oladipo scored 21 points and NIkola Vucevic racked up 20 points and 10 rebounds for the Magic, who have lost four straight and 10 of their last 12 at home. Tobias Harris finished with 18 points and 11 boards for Orlando, which was 4-of-19 from 3-point range.
The Hornets broke open a close game with a 22-0 run over the final 7:29 of the first half, as Orlando missed 10 straight shots and committed five turnovers over that stretch. The Magic went 2-for-17 in the second quarter and were outscored 30-9 in the period, marking the fewest points Charlotte has allowed in any quarter this season.
Orlando opened the third quarter with 10 straight points and trimmed the 23-point halftime deficit to 12, but the Hornets reestablished a 70-54 advantage through three quarters before scoring the first five points of the fourth. Elfrid Payton's three-point play with one minute left capped a 16-4 run and pulled the Magic within 91-84, but that was as close as it got as Charlotte closed it out at the line.
GAME NOTEBOOK: Kidd-Gilchrist has recorded consecutive double-doubles for the first time in his career and has scored in double figures in a season-high four straight games. … Magic F Channing Frye left in the second quarter with a strained right elbow and did not return. … The start of the game was delayed nine minutes because of clock issues.