Lin, Hornets erase 23-point deficit, beat Spurs 91-88

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) - Jeremy Lin scored 15 of his 29 points in the fourth quarter, and the Charlotte Hornets overcame a 23-point deficit to snap the San Antonio Spurs' six-game winning streak with a 91-88 victory Monday night.

Lin was 11 of 18 from the field and hit all four 3-point attempts, including three in the fourth quarter.

Courtney Lee had 17 points, Nicolas Batum added 15, and Cody Zeller grabbed 14 rebounds for the Hornets, who bounced back from a disappointing loss to the Denver Nuggets on Saturday night.

Tony Parker had 19 points for the Spurs, while LaMarcus Aldridge added 18 points and 12 rebounds. Tim Duncan had 16 points and 10 rebounds.

The Spurs had two chances to tie it at the end of regulation, but Patty Mills and Danny Green both missed 3-point attempts. Lee sealed the game with a steal off an inbounds pass as time expired.

The Hornets snapped an 11-game losing streak to the Spurs and denied Duncan and company their 60th win of the season.

It looked early on like the Spurs would rout the Hornets.

San Antonio led by 28-7 after the first quarter, holding the Hornets to 3-of-21 shooting from the field - including a pair of airballs - while forcing five turnovers. Parker outscored the Hornets all by himself in the opening quarter with 12 points.

But Charlotte would battle back, steadily chipping away until finally taking the lead with 9:09 left in the game behind a pair of 3-pointers from Lin.

It was back and forth from there.

Lin then provided the shot of the night, hitting a fallaway jumper from 16 feet on the right wing with 48 seconds left to give the Hornets the lead for good at 89-88. Lin grabbed a rebound on the other end of the floor and was fouled. He converted a pair of free throws with 18 seconds left for the final margin.

Lin was 5 of 7 from the field in the third quarter, including 3 of 3 from beyond the arc.

Lee, acquired in a midseason trade with Memphis, provided the big spark for the Hornets with 13 points in the third quarter. His 17 points were his most since joining Charlotte.

TIP-INS

Spurs: Held Hornets to a season-low seven points in first quarter. ... Duncan passed Gary Payton in career minutes played (47,117).

Hornets: Charlotte held a 21-4 edge on fast-break points. ... For the second straight game, the Hornets failed to reach 40 points in the first half, entering the locker room down 51-36.

UP NEXT

Magic: Host Miami on Wednesday night.

Hornets: Visit Brooklyn on Tuesday night.