Walker runs past Curry to top of scoring chart
The NBA’s new scoring leader was determined his latest big night wouldn’t go to waste.
Kemba Walker scored 43 points, giving him 103 in his last two games, as the Charlotte Hornets battled back to beat the Boston Celtics 117-112 on Monday night.
Walker, who had a season league-best 60-point effort in an overtime loss to the Philadelphia 76ers on Saturday, scored 21 points in the fourth quarter and made 14 of 25 shots overall, including seven 3-pointers.
He finished 7 of 10 from the floor with four 3-pointers in the fourth quarter as Charlotte erased a 10-point deficit to improved to 8-8 on the season.
“I just wanted to win, man,” Walker said. “I wanted to win a close game. We’ve been in every game for the most part. There’s a couple we haven’t been in, but you know things just haven’t been going our way in those situations and tonight it did and it felt good.”
Walker leapfrogged Golden State guard Stephen Curry at the top of the NBA scoring chart with 29.6 points per game.
Walker also passed the injured Curry for the league lead in 3-pointers, with 65.
“It means a lot but it’s still the early season,” Walker said.
“I would’ve never, ever in my life thought I would be that high up in the rankings as far as scoring in the NBA. But I’m going to try to keep it up, do what I can to keep winning games.”
It was Walker who delivered the knockout punch with a clutch 3 from 27 feet with 32 seconds left, bringing fans to their feet and putting the Hornets up by six.
Irving missed two open 3s down the stretch and the Hornets escaped with the win to pull even at .500.
After one big shot, a pumped-up Walker screamed: “This is my city!”
“We were looking for another 60 but I think 43 will do tonight,” joked Hornets coach James Borrego. “He’s incredible. This is a special player, a special performance and a special start to the season.”