Bobcats 115, Warriors 111
CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- Guard Kemba Walker scored 31 points, including 27 in the second half, as the Charlotte Bobcats beat the Golden State Warriors 115-111 on Monday night.
Walker put the game away with six free throws in the final minute, on a night when the Bobcats let a 15-point second-half lead slip away but then were able to hold on in a frantic finish. The Bobcats went on a 12-2 spurt after Golden State tied it at 88-88, and then never let the Warriors closer than three in the final minute.
The win was Charlotte's second straight and raised the record to 10-11, while Golden State fell to 12-10.
Walker was 10 of 18 from the field with two 3-pointers, and nine of 11 from the free-throw line. The Bobcats also got a season-high 24 points from guard Gerald Henderson, 13 from guard Ramon Sessions, 12 from guard Ben Gordon, and 11 each from forward Josh McRoberts and center Al Jefferson.
It was the most points scored by the Bobcats all season.
Guard Stephen Curry finished with 43 points for the Warriors on 14-of-32 shooting from the field. Guard Klay Thompson scored 22, forward David Lee had 14 points and 16 rebounds, and forward Harrison Barnes scored 14.
It was a game between teams plagued by injuries. The Bobcats were without forward Jeffery Taylor (left heel contusion), center Bismack Biyombo (right ankle sprain), forward Michael Kidd-Gilchrist (fractured left hand) and center Brendan Haywood (stress fracture left foot). The Warriors were without forward Andre Iguodala (strained left hamstring), center Ognjen Kuzmic (fractured right hand) and center Festus Ezeli (right knee surgery).
The Bobcats led 27-21 after one quarter and then pushed the lead to 53-41 at halftime. At one point, Curry, Thompson and Lee were a combined three of 22 from the field. Golden State was 1-for-12 from 3-point range in the first half.
Charlotte's biggest lead came at 77-62 with 3:28 left in the third quarter. But the Warriors whittled that down to 83-77 after three quarters and tied the game at 88-88 before the Bobcats went on their final spurt and led 100-90.
NOTES: Warriors G Stephen Curry was making his annual homecoming. He played at Charlotte Christian High School and then Davidson. His father, Dell, is the Bobcats' television analyst. ... Bobcats F Anthony Tolliver got his second start of the season with both F Michael Kidd-Gilchrist and F Jeffery Taylor out. ... The Warriors played their 14th road game of the season on Monday, which is the most of any team in the league. They have played only eight home games so far. ... The Warriors were winding up a three-game road trip and were coming off a 108-82 win at Memphis on Saturday. ... The Bobcats were in the middle of a three-game homestand. They were coming off a 105-88 win over Philadelphia on Friday. ... Bobcats G Kemba Walker and Warriors G Klay Thompson are the only members of the 2011 draft class to have played in all their team's games. ... The Warriors lead the NBA in 3-point field-goal percentage at .427 and are threatening the NBA record of .428 set by the 1996-97 Charlotte Hornets, who featured Dell Curry. ... Stephen Curry became the Warriors' all-time 3-point leader with his 701st career triple on Saturday at Memphis. He passed Jason Richardson. ... The Bobcats will remain home to face Orlando on Wednesday. ... The Warriors will return home to face Dallas on Wednesday.
