Stojakovic’s career-best 42 points leads Hornets over Bobcats

The Hornets, who had lost three straight after a 4-0 start, didn’t get much out of Stojakovic’s supporting cast, but the sharpshooter’s effort was enough. Outside of Stojakovic, the Hornets made only 20-of-64 from the floor.

Bobby Jackson had 14 points off the bench and Chris Paul dished out 10 assists with three steals, but misfired on all eight of his field-goal attempts.

"I feel a little bit better about our effort," said Hornets head coach Byron Scott. "You know it’s something we are going to continue to harp on, because like I said, if we play as hard as we can, we can be a pretty good basketball team."

In another rendition of what was a heated backcourt rivalry from their days in the Atlantic Coast Conference, the North Carolina product Raymond Felton scored just seven points with three assists against the former Wake Forest Demon Deacon Paul.

Felton’s college teammate Sean May had 18 points and 11 rebounds off the bench, but the Bobcats’ offensive show belonged to rookie Adam Morrison, who tied his career high with 21 points while grabbing seven rebounds. Emeka Okafor posted a double-double with a team-high 25 points, 16 rebounds and a franchise-high seven blocks.

Charlotte, which dropped its fourth straight, was undone by poor foul shooting and turnovers. The Bobcats made only 13-of-23 from the charity stripe and committed 18 turnovers.

"We played hard, but there were unforced turnovers," explained Okafor. "You can’t do that down the stretch in a close game. You just can’t."

After the Bobcats took a 60-59 lead in the third stanza on Okafor’s jump hook, the Hornets reeled off 10 in a row to take the lead. Stojakovic scored the middle six points and Jackson’s layup with 3:42 left opened the nine-point edge.

The Bobcats tied the game at 80-80 on another Okafor jump hook with 4:49 left in the fourth, but the remaining time belonged to the Hornets.

It was Stojakovic again who took control, scoring seven straight points for New Orleans/Oklahoma City. His jumper with 3:28 left opened an 87-82 edge, and the Hornets held on from there.

After an offensive display on both ends during the first stanza, the two clubs struggled to find the touch before halftime. A 7-0 stretch by the Hornets late in the half helped build the three-point edge.

Desmond Mason’s three-point play, Jackson’s jumper and Stojakovic’s free throw opened a 55-50 lead with 49 seconds remaining. The half was vintage Stojakovic, who buried 7-of-9 from the floor along with three jumpers from beyond the arc for 23 points.

Morrison was 6-of-11 for 14 points while Okafor played large in the first half against Tyson Chandler. Okafor compiled 15 points, nine rebounds and three blocks to Chandler’s zero points and four boards.

Game Notes

Chandler did improve in the second half, finishing with two points and 15 rebounds before leaving late in the game after taking an elbow to the face from May...Charlotte held a 50-44 edge on the boards...The game featured 14 ties and 15 lead changes...The Hornets have won three straight in the series.