Walker, Daniels lift Hornets to season sweep of Nets 113-99
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) - Kemba Walker scored 22 points, Troy Daniels made his first five 3-point attempts and finished with 17 points, and the Charlotte Hornets completed a four-game season sweep of the Brooklyn Nets with a 113-99 win on Friday night.
With the win, the Hornets (46-33) assured they'll be no lower than the sixth seed in the Eastern Conference playoffs. Charlotte still has an outside shot of hosting a playoff series, but trails Boston and Miami for the fourth spot.
Walker tallied his 41st game with 20 or more points this season.
Nicolas Batum had 14 points and Marvin Williams added 12 for the Hornets, who improved to 29-11 at home.
Wayne Ellington had 21 points, and Thomas Robinson had 16 points and 17 rebounds for the Nets, who have lost seven straight.
The Hornets began to take control midway through the third quarter.
Leading by 10, Batum sank a 3-pointer from the wing and Walker drove the right side of the lane and scored on a leaning, one-handed up-and-under layup between two defenders. He capped the 7-0 run by scoring on a driving left-handed layup following a Brooklyn turnover to push the lead to 17.
The Nets, who turned the ball over 15 times, never threatened after that.
Walker and Frank Kaminsky connected on 3s to push the lead to 20 after three quarters.
The Hornets shot 51 percent in the first half to take a 50-43 lead with Walker and Daniels combining for 20 points on six 3-pointers.
Cody Zeller, who replaced Al Jefferson as the team's starting center earlier this season, tied a career high with five blocked shots.
Robinson kept the Nets in the game early, recording a career-high 12 offensive rebounds before fouling out with 2:14 left in the game.
The Hornets had at least 10 3-pointers for the 49th time this season, which is second to only the defending NBA champion Golden State Warriors (64).
TIP-INS
Nets: Brook Lopez and Thaddeus Young were given the night off to rest.
Hornets: Charlotte won its 46th game for the first time since the 2000-01 season. ... Charlotte started its "Win with Walker" campaign, hoping to stir up support for him as the league's Most Improved Player. ... Jeremy Lamb (strained toe) did not play.
UP NEXT
Nets: Visit Indianapolis on Sunday.
Hornets: Visit Washington on Sunday.