Scoring options, depth and Kemba Walker add up to a huge comeback

June and July were about the Charlotte Hornets finding scoring options.

October and November have been about exploring those options.

The Hornets looked dreadful in the third quarter, trailing the Sacramento Kings at home by as many as 22 points. They came all the way back to lead late in the fourth quarter and close out this game in overtime 127-122.

The centerpiece of that comeback was point guard Kemba Walker, who scored 25 of his 39 points in the fourth quarter and overtime. But those surrounding Walker late were not the usual suspects: Jeremy Lin, Cody Zeller and rookie Frank Kaminsky played prominent roles while Al Jefferson and Marvin Williams sat and watched.

“We’re not the kind of team where the same five guys are going to finish every game,” Hornets coach Steve Clifford said Monday.

That’s a good thing. Two years ago, in order to earn a playoff berth, Clifford had to play Jefferson and Walker nearly every minute of every second half in late March and April. Clifford believes overworking Jefferson might have been a factor in his plantar fascia injury, which effectively destined the then-Bobcats to be swept by the Miami Heat.

Hornets general manager Rich Cho made a series of transactions before and after the draft. The Hornets didn’t have much flexibility under the salary cap, so Cho went mostly the trade route. That supplied the roster with Nic Batum (from Portland), Jeremy Lamb (from Oklahoma City) and Spencer Hawes (from the Los Angeles Clippers).

Kaminsky came via the draft and Lin was a free-agent signing.

Those moves helped transform the Hornets from one of the most limited offensive teams in the NBA to now one of the more potent. The Hornets entered this game ninth in points per game, 11th in field-goal percentage and seventh in 3-point percentage.

So when Clifford said Monday he didn’t think a 22-point deficit seemed insurmountable, he had the firepower to back that up. Lin scored 13 points in the fourth quarter and overtime. Kaminsky added seven points and four rebounds over the same span. Zeller added five crucial rebounds and helped hold the Kings to 4-of-12 shooting in overtime.

“It’s really cool that I can get some rest. JLin made huge plays for us and other guys as well,” Walker said.

“We have guys who are consistently ready, consistently working on their games. That’s one thing I love about this team – guys stay ready and those who don’t play are up on the bench cheering us on.”

Case in point: When Lin made a breakaway layup in overtime, forcing a Sacramento timeout, Williams ran nearly to half court to give Lin a chest bump. Williams totaled 18 seconds of playing time in the fourth quarter and overtime, but was ecstatic over being part of such a big comeback. That tied for second-largest deficit overcome in Hornets history.

“We weren’t supposed to win that game,” Walker said. “Guys just made some great plays. JLin made huge shots in overtime.

“That goes back to our depth – they’re always ready.”

And they’re not always the same five and likely won’t be the rest of the season.

This story was originally published November 23, 2015 at 11:07 PM with the headline "Scoring options, depth and Kemba Walker add up to a huge comeback."