Anderson ices the game at the line as Bobcats top Hornets

Gerald Wallace also tallied 21 points, and grabbed seven rebounds for the Bobcats, who won their second in a row. Emeka Okafor was a force, finishing with 16 points, 15 rebounds, and five blocked shots. Adam Morrison added 18 points off the bench, and Derek Anderson scored 12, including two clutch free throws with 6.4 seconds left to ice the game.

Chris Paul scored 20 points and tallied seven assists for the Hornets, who had won 9 of 12 entering the game. Tyson Chandler finished with 16 points and 20 boards, Desmond Mason scored 17 points and grabbed six boards, and David West scored 16 points and racked in seven boards for the Hornets.

A Jannero Pargo three pulled the Hornets to within 102-100 with 31.5 seconds left, and Felton gave the Hornets a golden opportunity by missing a jumper from the lane with seven seconds left. Okafor tipped the rebound up in the air, though, and Anderson drew a loose ball foul from Devin Brown. Anderson sank both free throws, clinching the win.

Paul opened the second half with a three, spurring a 10-0 Hornets run that nudged them on top of the Bobcats, 54-53. The teams battled neck-and-neck for the rest of the quarter, almost coming to blows at on point.

Charlotte’s Jake Voskuhl fouled Paul as the Hornets guard drove the lane, drawing a referee’s whistle with 5:14 left in the third. Voskuhl did not let go of Paul’s left arm, though, and the second-year guard spiked the ball off of Voskuhl’s arm, causing a commotion under the basket, with players from both teams shoving each other.

When the dust settled the referees handed out five technicals, including fouls to Voskuhl and Paul.

The Hornets led 78-77 entering the fourth quarter.

The Bobcats led 25-24 after the first quarter, and 53-44 at the half.

Game Notes

Brevin Knight was a late scratch for the Bobcats with a sore right groin...Charlotte is now 11-9 when scoring 100-plus points...The Hornets outrebounded the Bobcats, 47-36.