Kemba Walker’s late 3-pointer, Nic Batum push Hornets past Grizzlies

They were sloppy with the ball and struggled on the boards, but the Charlotte Hornets hit enough big shots to hold off the Memphis Grizzlies on Saturday.

Kemba Walker hit a huge 3-point shot — the Hornets’ 14th of the game — with 36 seconds left, and the Hornets held on 98-92 at Time Warner Cable Arena.

Shooting guard Nic Batum had a near triple-double for the Hornets with 20 points, 11 rebounds and eight assists. Walker finished with 20 points, eight assists and six rebounds. Jeremy Lin hit four free throws in the last nine seconds to preserve the victory.

The Hornets tied its season high 20 turnovers, which resulted in 24 Memphis points.

The Hornets swept the two-game series with the Grizzlies. This victory broke a three-game losing streak, improving the Hornets’ record to 16-13. The Grizzlies dropped to 16-16.

Three who mattered

Batum: This was the eighth game this season in which he scored 20 or more points.

Marc Gasol: Several Charlotte big men got in foul trouble trying to guard him.

Zach Randolph: He provided the Grizzlies a double-double off the bench.

Observations

▪  Walker came out early Saturday night for extra shooting. He made just 13 of 40 attempts in his previous three games. Saturday he made his first three attempts from 3-point range.

▪  Grizzlies coach Dave Joerger was none too happy with the Grizzlies’ weekend schedule. After playing in Charlotte, the Grizzlies were scheduled to fly home for a 5 p.m. Sunday game against the Los Angeles Lakers — who were already in Memphis.

▪  That same dynamic helps the Hornets; the Lakers will fly to Charlotte for Monday’s game on the second of back-to-backs.

▪  The Hornets shot 7-of-8 from 3-point range in the first quarter, three shy of tying a team record.

▪  Al Jefferson fouled out with eight minutes left in his first game back from a calf strain and suspension.

Worth mentioning

▪  Former North Carolina star Rasheed Wallace attended the game, sitting behind the Hornets’ bench.

▪  This was the 16th time this season the Hornets made at least 10 3-pointers in a game.

▪  The Hornets were clobbered on the boards in the first half, outrebounded 28-17.

Report card

B OFFENSE: Their spectacular first-half shooting tailed off dramatically in the third quarter.

C- DEFENSE: The Hornets gave up 12 offensive rebounds in the first half, which kept the Grizzlies in the game.

C+ COACHING: Steve Clifford has to be frustrated with his team’s turnovers.

This story was originally published December 26, 2015 at 9:36 PM with the headline "Kemba Walker’s late 3-pointer, Nic Batum push Hornets past Grizzlies."