Hornets Battle Back to Beat Bucks

Kemba Walker scored 22 points, and the Charlotte Hornets overcame the loss of center Al Jefferson to hold off the Milwaukee Bucks 87-82 on Sunday.

The decision doesn’t come as a surprise after Jefferson was initially listed as doubtful to return upon straining his left calf in the first half.

“”Charlotte”™s bench outscored Milwaukee”™s reserves 34-15. Center Greg Monroe finished with 17 points and 10 rebounds, guard O.J. Mayo scored 12, guard Jerryd Bayless scored 11 and forward Jabari Parker scored 10.

Hornets: The Hornets shot just 38.6 percent from the field (27 of 70) and turned the ball over 14 times, but were 15 of 31 on 3-pointers (tying a franchise record) and 18 of 22 on free throws.

“When you win three out of four quarters, you tend to win National Basketball Association games”, Kidd said.

“We hit some pretty big 3s”.

The Bucks were led by Khris Middleton who had 19 points, six assists, and five rebounds in the game.

“We have a good team, but we have a team that can keep getting better”. Charlotte averages 103.4 points and had put up 114.3 during its four-game winning streak.

“It was the reason that we won”, Hornets coach Steve Clifford said.

The challenge now is for the Bucks to head into the fortress that has been Time Warner Cable Arena early in the season, and to knock off the impressive Charlotte Hornets to get themselves back on track. The Bucks edged out Charlotte in the rebounding battle, 46-43, which includes 13 offensive rebounds for the Bucks compared to just seven by the Hornets.

Each team led by as many as 11 in the first half, but it was knotted at 80 entering the final minute.

“We have to be a more consistent team”, said assistant Joe Prunty, who stepped in for coach Jason Kidd while he served a one-game suspension for an altercation with an official during Wednesday’s 129-118 loss to Sacramento.

“I thought it was one of our best defensive efforts”, Kidd said. This was the second of eight Sunday afternoon games the Hornets will play this season….

Bucks: visit Denver on Monday night. Total fouls – M 24, C 16.

Next UpThe Hornets will take on the Golden State Warriors at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, Dec. 2 in Charlotte.