Walker, Batum lead Hornets past Pacers
CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- Kemba Walker scored 28 points and Nicolas Batum added 21, and the Charlotte Hornets rolled to a 100-88 victory over the Indiana Pacers on Monday night at the Spectrum Center.
Batum scored 14 of his points in the first quarter as the Hornets pulled out to a 27-16 lead after one quarter. Then Walker heated up in the second quarter and the Hornets pushed the lead up to as many as 24 before settling for a 58-37 halftime lead.
The Pacers cut the margin to 74-66 after three quarters, but never got closer than seven early in the fourth.
The Hornets (28-35) have won two straight and three of their last four.
Jeremy Lamb finished with 14 points, Cody Zeller had 13 points and 11 rebounds, and Michael Kidd-Gilchrist had 11 points and 13 rebounds for Charlotte.
The Pacers (32-31) were sloppy and had little energy, especially in the first half, in the final game of a five-game road trip. They won at Atlanta 97-96 on Sunday.
They committed 16 turnovers and were outrebounded 50-41.
Paul George led the Pacers with 36 points, 10 rebounds and five assists. C.J. Miles scored 16 points, Monta Ellis scored 12, and Jeff Teague scored 10.
The Hornets were without Frank Kaminsky (sprained AC joint), Miles Plumlee (strained calf) and Ramon Sessions (knee surgery). The Pacers were without Lavoy Allen (knee).
NOTES: This was the third of four games between the teams this season. They split the first two, each winning at home. They will meet for the final time on March 15 at Indiana. ... Hornets G Kemba Walker was named the Eastern Conference player of the week on Monday. He averaged 27.7 points in three games last week, two of them wins. It's his first such honor this season and the fifth of his career. ... The Hornets signed F Johnny O'Bryant to a second 10-day contract on Monday, two days after he scored 15 in a win at Denver. ... The Pacers are 3-11 on the second night of back-to-backs this season, including 0-7 on the road. ... The Hornets committed just one foul in the first quarter, two in the second, and two in the third. .... The Hornets were returning from a seven-game road trip. This game started a stretch with 12 of their final 20 games at home. ... The Hornets will play at Miami on Wednesday. ... The Pacers will return home to host Detroit on Wednesday.