NBA Game Summary - Orlando at Charlotte

Charlotte, NC (Basketball News) - Brevin Knight scored a team-high 19 points, including the game-changing three-point play in the waning seconds, as the Charlotte Bobcats overcame a 16-point first-half deficit to beat the Orlando Magic, 102-97, and snap a 10-game losing streak.

Knight netted 11 of his points in the fourth quarter and added eight assists for Charlotte, which won for just the second time in 15 games.

With the Bobcats leading 97-95 and the final seconds dwindling off the clock, Knight drove right and threw up a runner over Jameer Nelson, who was called for a foul. The basket counted and Knight hit the ensuing free throw to stretch the lead to what proved an insurmountable five points.

"We told ourselves ’let’s go out and defend and rebound’ and in the second half we did that," said Knight. "We did that and we made stops when we had to."

Emeka Okafor notched his 35th double-double of the season with 17 points and 13 rebounds in the win. Meanwhile, Primoz Brezec contributed 16 points on 7- of-9 shooting to go along with eight rebounds for the Bobcats, who lost starting guard Keith Bogans late in the second quarter with what was reported as back spasms. Bogans was helped off the court and did not return.

Picking up Bogans’ scoring were Matt Carroll with 12 points and Bernard Robinson, who scored 10 of his 12 points in the fourth quarter.

Leading Orlando, which played its second game without suspended All-Star guard Steve Francis, was Grant Hill with 25 points and nine boards.

The Magic jumped out to a 55-44 halftime lead behind 20 points from Hill and 19 points and seven rebounds from rookie Dwight Howard. Both players went cold in the second half, combining for just seven points after intermission.

Howard finished with 21 points and 13 rebounds, while Nelson netted 18 points and handed out six assists in the loss.

Charlotte outscored Orlando 28-18 in the third quarter to cut a double-digit deficit to 73-72 heading into the final 12 minutes.

"In the second half, they came out like a dog in the corner and fought," said Howard. "If we want to make the playoffs we can’t let these games get away."

The Bobcats seized the lead, 76-75, on a Knight jumper less than two minutes into the fourth and the teams traded baskets throughout the frame.

After Orlando pulled to within 94-92 on a Howard jumper, Robinson hit a free throw and Brezec added a jumper to extend the Charlotte edge to 97-93 with just more than a minute to play.

With 31 seconds on the clock, Hill hit two free throws to set up Knight’s runner.

"We played a half and that’s not enough," said Orlando coach Chris Jent. "There’s no more time for ’we can’, now we have to."