Charlotte Hornets hold off New Orleans Pelicans for 5th straight win

These 30-point games from Kemba Walker are becoming the norm, huh?

So are home winning streaks.

The Hornets won their fifth overall Wednesday, holding off the New Orleans Pelicans 122-113 at Time Warner Cable Arena. At 35-28 the Hornets have now won six in a row at home and play their next four there.

Walker had his fourth consecutive game of 30 or more points, finishing with 35 on 9-of-18 from the field and 5-of-10 from 3-point range. Walker also earned 16 trips to the foul line.

The Hornets overcame spectacular nights from Pelicans power forward Anthony Davis (40 points and 13 rebounds) and point guard Jrue Holiday (38 points).

The Hornets next play Friday against the Detroit Pistons.

Three who mattered

Walker: This was the 13th time in 14 games he reached 20 or more points.

Davis: He’s getting very little help due to all the New Orleans injuries, but he is such a versatile scorer.

Holiday: He was disruptive off the dribble and made 3s.

Observations

▪ Third-string point guard Jorge Gutierrez’s second 10-day contract expires soon. Coach Steve Clifford has frequently praised Gutierrez for his basketball IQ and toughness, so there’s a good chance he will be signed for the rest of the season.

▪ Small forward Michael Kidd-Gilchrist is back in Charlotte and no longer must wear a sling, following his second surgery for a torn labrum in his right shoulder.

▪ The Pelicans listed five players as out for Wednesday’s game, most prominently Eric Gordon and Tyreke Evans. Coach Alvin Gentry said by season’s end the Pelicans will have lost more than 300 player-games to injury.

▪ Walker now has 25 career games of 30 or more points. That is third all-time in Hornets history behind Glen Rice (54) and Gerald Wallace (26).

▪ Gentry started guard Orlando Johnson, a call-up from the NBA Development League who has yet to practice with his new team.

Worth mentioning

▪ The Hornets’ 39 points were the most in a first quarter this season.

▪ The Hornets made eight 3s in the first quarter.

▪ The Hornets were charged with a technical foul late in the first half for their second delay-of-game violation.

Report card

A- OFFENSE: That 39-point first quarter was impressive, then the Hornets stopped making shots in the third quarter.

C DEFENSE: Davis has big nights against everyone, but Charlotte also had no answer for Holiday.

B COACHING: So far so good on this homestand.

This story was originally published March 9, 2016 at 9:41 PM with the headline "Charlotte Hornets hold off New Orleans Pelicans for 5th straight win."