Bobcats beat Magic 106-100 to end 5-game skid

[January 19, 2013]  ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) -- Kemba Walker had 25 points and eight rebounds, and Gerald Henderson added 17 points as the Charlotte Bobcats snapped a five-game losing streak with a 106-100 win over the Orlando Magic on Friday night.

The Bobcats evened the season series with the Magic and now return home for four consecutive games, beginning with Sacramento on Saturday.

Charlotte started fast and shot the ball well throughout, with its field goal percentage hovering above 50 percent for most of the night. The Bobcats also shot 17 more free throws than Orlando, including some crucial ones in the final minute to secure the victory.

Arron Afflalo led Orlando with 23 points, followed by Jameer Nelson with 22.

Orlando has lost its last six games against teams with records below .500.

The Magic seemed to be making some progress following their convincing win over Indiana on Wednesday, when they got production from both the perimeter and inside.

Meanwhile, Charlotte came in rested following a 27-point loss to Indiana on Tuesday.

The Magic were flat throughout against the energized Bobcats, but trailed by just five entering the fourth quarter.

A pair of free throws by Nelson trimmed it to 98-94 with 1:13 to play, but he left the game on the ensuing Charlotte possession following a collision near midcourt.

Afflalo was called for a technical foul for making a demonstrative gesture after a no-call by a referee. Walker knocked down the resulting free throw, and two more to make it 101-94.

Afflalo redeemed himself with a three-point play to close within four, but Charlotte made enough free throws the rest of the way to hang on.

Henderson scored nine of Charlotte's first 11 points and finished the first half with 17 as the Bobcats took a 57-45 lead into the locker room.

Henderson and Walker combined for 33 points in the opening 24 minutes, pacing a Charlotte team that shot 59 percent (23 for 39). It was the best an opponent has shot against Orlando in any half this season.

The Magic didn't have many crisp halfcourt sets and got only 11 minutes out of Glen Davis before he went to the bench with three fouls.

NOTES: Charlotte earned its first road win since Jan. 6, improving to 5-14 on the season. ... Magic C Nikola Vucevic finished with 11 points and nine rebounds, ending his string of eight straight double-doubles.

[Associated Press; By KYLE HIGHTOWER]

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