Walker, Hornets walk over Raptors 113-78
CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- Kemba Walker scored 32 points before sitting out the entire fourth quarter and the Charlotte Hornets continued to get well at home with a 113-78 victory over the Toronto Raptors on Friday night.
Walker was 11 of 16 from the field with six 3-pointers on a night when the Hornets shot 50 percent from the field and hit 12 3-pointers. He had a rare four-point play in the final minute of the third quarter.
Earlier this season, the All-Star hopeful scored 40 in a loss to the Raptors.
The Hornets (22-21) won their second game in three nights at the Spectrum Center after returning from a winless five-game road trip.
They allowed the Raptors to score the first basket of the game but never trailed again. They blew the game open in the third quarter by outscoring the Raptors 33-15 in the quarter, leading by as many as 25 points. They continued to pour it on in the fourth quarter.
Frank Kaminsky added 16 points and eight rebounds. Nicolas Batum scored 13, Cody Zeller 11 and Ramon Sessions and Marvin Williams finished with 10 apiece.
The Raptors (28-15) suffered their second straight loss after losing at Philadelphia on Wednesday.
The Raptors shot just 33.7 percent from the field, the second game in a row they have shot less than 40 percent.
Kyle Lowry led the Raptors with 24 points and DeMar DeRozan scored 23. The only other Raptor in double figures was Jonas Valanciunas with 11.
The Hornets led 26-18 after one quarter, 55-48 at halftime and 88-63 after three quarters.
NOTES: The Raptors won the only previous game this season, 113-111 in Charlotte on Nov. 11. The teams will meet two more times later in the season, both times in Toronto. ... The Raptors were without F Patrick Patterson (sore knee) and C Lucas Nogueira (concussion). ... The Hornets were without G Jeremy Lamb (metatarsal inflammation). ... The Raptors were finishing a three-game road trip. They will return home to face Phoenix on Sunday. ... The Hornets were playing the second game of a five-game homestand. They'll host Brooklyn on Saturday. ... Toronto and Charlotte each average 12.0 turnovers per game. Technically, the Raptors lead the NBA and the Hornets rank third. ... Charlotte has committed the fewest fouls in the NBA. ... The Hornets were coming off a 107-85 win over Portland on Wednesday. The Raptors lost 94-89 on Wednesday at Philadelphia.