Jefferson, Williams lead Hornets past Lakers 104-103
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) - Al Jefferson had 21 points and 16 rebounds, Mo Williams added 20 points and 13 assists and the Charlotte Hornets beat the Los Angeles Lakers 104-103 on Tuesday night for their third win in four games.
Williams, who came in averaging 23.4 points in his first five games since being acquired from Minnesota, had his third double-double with the Hornets.
Williams knocked down a big 3-pointer with a minute to play to push the lead to six and added five free throws in the final 18 seconds to seal the win.
Gerald Henderson added 21 points, including several key baskets late in the fourth quarter. Cody Zeller had 10 points and 11 rebounds as all five Charlotte starters finished in double figures.
Jeremy Lin led the Lakers with 23 points off the bench, while Jordan Clarkson had 19.
Williams, who is filling in for the injured Kemba Walker, is averaging eight assists per game since joining the Hornets.
The Hornets took the lead for good with 4:44 left when Henderson connected on a 3-pointer from the right wing on an assist from Williams for an 89-86 lead. Henderson pushed the lead to five a minutes later when he made a 17-footer off yet another feed from Williams.
After the Lakers cut the lead to 95-92, Williams hit a 3-pointer from the top of the key with one minute remaining.
Williams his 1 of 2 free throws with 3.4 seconds left to push the lead to four before Lin added a meaningless 3-pointer at the buzzer.
The Lakers were a combined 12 of 40 from the field in the second and third quarters but managed to stay close behind some key baskets by Lin, who turned in one of his better games of the season.
The Hornets continue to move the ball well with Williams in the lineup, piling up 30 assists on the night.
The Hornets won despite shooting 21 of 31 from the free-throw line. Williams was 8 of 9 from the stripe.
The Lakers have lost two in a row coming off a season-high three-game winning streak.
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TIP-INS
Lakers: Nick Young missed another game with a sore left knee. Young is one of five Lakers who didn't play. Kobe Bryant remains out with a torn rotator cuff, along with Steve Nash (sciatic pain), Julius Randle (fractured tibia) and Ronnie Price (elbow).
Hornets: Rookie P.J. Hairston was inactive for the Hornets again and has fallen behind Jeffery Taylor and Troy Daniels on the team's depth chart, according to coach Steve Clifford.
UP NEXT
Lakers: At Miami on Wednesday night.
Hornets: At Brooklyn on Wednesday night.