STEVE REED
AP Sports Writer
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — Kemba Walker made a 21-footer from the top of the key with five seconds left in overtime to lift Charlotte to a 108-106 win over the Milwaukee Bucks on Wednesday night, providing a fitting ending for fans celebrating the return of the Hornets name after a 12-year absence.
Walker finished with 26 points, including a tying 3-pointer with 1.6 seconds left in regulation as the Hornets erased a 24-point third-quarter deficit.
Marvin Williams had 19 points, Michael Kidd-Gilchrist scored 17 and Al Jefferson finished with 14 points and 10 rebounds for Charlotte. Lance Stephenson had seven points, 13 rebounds and eight assists in his Hornets debut.
The Bucks were led by Brandon Knight, who had 22 points and 13 assists.
Down 74-50, the Hornets battled back to send it to overtime after Khris Middleton missed 1 of 2 free throws in a late trip to the line, leading to Walker’s big basket.
After agreeing to a four-year, $48 million contract on Tuesday night, Walker got off to a shaky start, hitting just 2 of 8 shots in the first quarter and picking up a technical foul.
But he came through when the Hornets needed him most.
After Middleton made his second free throw with 7.1 seconds left in regulation, Walker took the inbounds pass, weaved through traffic and pulled up well beyond the 3-point arc. He elevated through his shot as fans in the lower section rose from their seats in unison, almost willing the ball into the basket.
The Bucks couldn’t get a shot off at the end of regulation.
The teams traded baskets in overtime with Middleton scoring six of his 17 points. With the game tied at 106, Middleton drove the lane and missed a pull-up jumper.
That set up Walker’s game-winning shot.
Stephenson got off to a rough start missing his first six shots and failing to score until the 5:49 mark of the third quarter.
But a high-flying dunk over Larry Sanders in the lane seemed to ignite the flamboyant swingman, who quickly helped the Hornets trim the lead to 15 entering the fourth quarter. Stephenson, who is battling a groin injury, left the game twice in the final few minutes because of cramping in his leg.
Charlotte finished 43-39 season and earned the No. 7 seed in the Eastern Conference playoffs last season, and are looking to build on that following the addition of Stephenson.
Coach Steve Clifford expressed concerns over the team’s lack of playing time together coming into the game because of a number of nagging injuries. Clifford said earlier in the week “we’re just not there yet.”
That proved true in the first half as the Hornets looked out of sync on offense and had some major defensive lapses.
The Bucks shot 52 percent in the first half and outscored the Hornets 22-10 in the paint to take a 57-46 lead into the locker room.
The Bucks finished with the worst record in the league last year and wound up drafting Jabari Parker from Duke with the No. 2 overall pick. Parker finished with eight points in his first NBA game.
TIP-INS
Bucks: O.J. Mayo was strong off the bench for the Bucks with 17 points on 6 of 10 shooting. … The Bucks lost despite shooting 48.8 percent to Charlotte’s 40.6 percent.
Hornets: Hornets general manager Rich Cho announced before the game the team has exercised its fourth-year option on forward Michael Kidd-Gilchrist and its third-year option on forward Cody Zeller. “We are excited to keep both of these young talents as part of our core for another season,” Cho said in a release. … The Hornets introduced their alternate teal uniforms in front of a sold-out crowd.
UP NEXT
Milwaukee hosts Philadelphia on Friday.
Charlotte hosts Memphis on Saturday.
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