Bobcats rally past Nets
Toolbox
The associated press - Published: November 3, 2009
CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Gerald Wallace had 24 points and 20 rebounds and the Charlotte Bobcats held the New Jersey Nets without a point for more than 10 minutes in rallying for a 79-68 victory on Monday.
The Nets' ineptitude allowed Charlotte to go on a 24-0 run bridging the third and fourth quarters, wiping out the Bobcats' horrible offensive start. D.J. Augustin added 21 points in Raja Bell's return from a wrist injury.
The Nets dropped to 0-4 thanks to a brutal stretch where they lost Yi Jianlian to a sprained right knee and went nearly 11-1/2 minutes without a field goal. The Nets went 0-for-11 from the field with nine turnovers before Chris Douglas-Roberts' three-point play. Douglas-Roberts had 20 points and Brook Lopez added 18.
Knicks 117, Hornets 111
NEW YORK — David Lee scored a season-high 28 points, Al Harrington had 13 of his 24 in the fourth quarter, and the New York Knicks earned their first victory of the season by beating the New Orleans Hornets 117-111 on Monday night. Chris Duhon finished with 18 points and nine assists for the Knicks (1-3), who were off to their worst start since dropping their first five games in 2005-06.
But they played from ahead this time after facing huge deficits in their previous games, then pulled away midway through the fourth quarter.
Chris Paul had season highs of 32 points and 13 assists for the Hornets, who were coming off a loss in Boston on Sunday night. Emeka Okafor added 24 points, his best game with New Orleans, and grabbed 10 rebounds. David West scored 21 points.
Harrington was moved to the bench in the previous lineup change despite being the Knicks' leading scorer. He scored a career-high 42 points Saturday in an overtime loss to Philadelphia, then made key plays on both ends of this one to help New York seize control in the fourth.
New York led only 92-90 after a 3-pointer by Paul before Harrington and Lee sparked a decisive 10-2 run. Lee hit a pair of jumpers in the spurt and Harrington added a jumper and two free throws as the Knicks opened a 102-92 lead with 4:08 remaining.
Harrington's two free throws came after he came up with a loose ball in a scramble after a New Orleans turnover. Paul appeared to hit him in the head while they were on the floor fighting for the ball, but Harrington was able to maintain possession.
Harrington also blocked Paul's shot on a drive to the basket with about 3 minutes left.
The Knicks, who were outscored 72-38 in their last two first quarters, got off to a good start this time. Hughes scored eight points in eight minutes and New York led by 10 before settling for a 31-24 advantage.
New York pushed the lead to 12 on Harrington's 3-pointer early in the second, but the Hornets scored 11 straight to cut it to 38-37, and the Knicks led 58-52 at halftime.
The Knicks quickly regained a double-digit advantage, before Paul and Okafor controlled the middle of the third quarter. Paul's 3-pointer gave the Hornets a 75-73 lead, their first since the opening minutes, and he hit another jumper to end the period and send New Orleans to the fourth up 81-77.
36