Hornets record blowout win
Walker shoots 46 in 140-79 rout of Grizzlies, Harden has 10 in OT to lift Rockets over Pistons
>> LOS ANGELES: Kemba Walker scored 46 points on Thursday in leading the Charlotte Hornets to a recordshattering 140-79 romp over visiting Memphis, one of the most lopsided routs in NBA history.
The 61-point victory margin was the largest in any NBA game since 1998 and marked only the sixth time in league history a team won by 60 or more points.
“It was fun. The crowd was into it. It was good to be a part of something like that,” Charlotte guard Jeremy Lamb said. “It feels really good.”
Walker sank a club-record 10 three-pointers and made 10 free throws, becoming only the third player in any NBA contest with so many of each.
“I would have never imagined [making 10 three-pointers],” Walker said. “I never thought I’d be able to shoot the ball like that, especially in one individual game.”
Walker’s total came in only 28 minutes, the shortest span to reach 45 points since the NBA shot clock debuted in 1954.
“He could do that every night,” Hornets reserve forward Dwayne Bacon said. “He’s a great player. Just being around him, watching how he prepares, just playing, is just amazing.
“It was another great night for him.”
The Hornets, who led 75-42 at half-time and 112-57 entering the fourth quarter, won their most lopsided triumph and inflicted the worst lost ever upon the Grizzlies, who have lost 22 of their past 23 games.
James Harden scored 21 points, including 10 of Houston’s 12 points in overtime, to shake off a tough four quarters and lift the Rockets over Detroit 100-96.
After going 2 of 16 in regulation, including missing a shot that would have won it, Harden warmed up in overtime. He put Houston up with a basket early in the period before making it 93-90 on a three-point play after a basket by Andre Drummond. He added three free throws with about a minute left before PJ Tucker’s tip-in made it 98-90 with 21 seconds to play.
Anthony Davis capped a 33-point performance with two clutch free throws and a game-sealing steal in the final seconds, Rajon Rondo had 24 points and 10 assists, and New Orleans erased an 11-point, fourthquarter deficit to beat Los Angeles 128-125.
Rondo scored 12 of his points in the fourth quarter, when the Pelicans could not have been blamed if they had faded, giving they were playing for the fifth time in six nights.
Instead, they produced a riveting rally that pulled them into fourth place in the Western Conference with nine games left in the regular season.
New Orleans, which had a game against Indiana rescheduled this week because of a roof leak that postponed a game in February, became the first team since Seattle in 1979 to win three home games on consecutive nights. New Orleans have won four straight since beating Boston on Sunday and 15 of 19 since Feb 10.
Donovan Mitchell scored 26 points and Utah got back on the winning track by beating Dallas 119-112.
Two nights after a loss to Atlanta ended a nine-game winning streak, Utah moved into a tie with Minnesota for seventh place in the Western Conference play-off race. The Jazz have won 22 of their last 25 games.
Joel Embiid had 17 points and nine rebounds in just 20 minutes and surging Philadelphia moved closer to a play-off berth with a 118-98 victory over Orlando.