Mullens lifts Bobcats over Raptors 107-101

[March 21, 2013]  CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) -- Byron Mullens scored 25 points, Gerald Henderson had another solid all-around game and the Charlotte Bobcats beat the Toronto Raptors 107-101 on Wednesday night to win consecutive games for the first time since mid-November.

Mullens scored 12 points in the fourth quarter. The reserve made his final eight free throws, including four with less than 13 seconds to go as Charlotte won its third straight at home.

Henderson scored 21 points on 8-of-14 shooting and added seven rebounds and five assists, continuing the best stretch of his four-year NBA career. Henderson came in averaging 23 points on 49 percent shooting over the past six games and has now scored at least 20 points in five of the last seven games.

Rudy Gay had 25 points and DeMar DeRozan added 19 points for the Raptors, who have lost seven of their last eight games in Charlotte and fell to 9-25 on the road.

Ben Gordon finished with 16 points for the Bobcats and Josh McRoberts had 12 points and 12 rebounds.

The Bobcats blew a fourth-quarter lead against the Raptors last Friday night and lost by 14. This time, they held on when Toronto made a run.

Leading 94-93 with 2:45 left, the Bobcats forced a turnover. Gordon then converted a pair of free throws and knocked down a 3-pointer from the corner to quickly push the lead to six.

The Raptors got within three, but McRoberts grabbed a key rebound and kicked the ball out to run more time off the clock. Gordon was fouled and converted one of two foul shots.

Mullens, who missed his first four free throws in the game, knocked down two from the line with 11.1 seconds left to help Charlotte secure the win. He stole the ensuing inbound pass and made two more free throws.

The Bobcats looked flat early on just two nights after posting season highs in points, field-goal percentage and assists in a 119-114 win over Washington. Toronto jumped out to a 17-6 lead behind DeRozan, who scored 12 in the first quarter.

But the Bobcats (16-52) stormed back to take a five-point lead at halftime as Henderson started to heat up and backup point guard Jannero Pargo connected on a pair of 3-pointers.

NOTES: Pargo, playing on a 10-day contract, is 10 of 16 from beyond the arc in his last three games with the Bobcats. ... Jonas Valanciunas and Kyle Lowry each had 18 points for the Raptors (26-42).

[Associated Press; By STEVE REED]

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