Walker sparks late rally, Hornets beat Boston 124-117

Kemba Walker scored 18 of his game-high 36 points in the fourth quarter and the Charlotte Hornets rallied to beat the Boston Celtics 124-117 Saturday night.

It was Walker's 23rd game of 30 or more points this season. He added 11 rebounds and nine assists.

Rookie Miles Bridges scored a career-high 20 points, Marvin Williams and Malik Monk added 13 points apiece and Dwayne Bacon scored 11.

Charlotte Hornets center Willy Hernangomez (41) blocks Boston Celtics forward Daniel Theis from making a basket in the first half of an NBA basketball game Saturday, March 23, 2019, in Charlotte, N.C. (AP PhotoJason E. Miczek)

Charlotte won its second straight, improved to 33-39 and kept its faint postseason hopes alive.

Kyrie Irving led Boston with 31 points. Jaylen Brown added 29 points and Marcus Morris 15. The Celtics (43-30) lost their third straight game despite hitting 19 3-pointers.

Trailing 112-94 with 8:22 remaining, Charlotte closed the game on a 30-5 run that included all 18 of Walker's fourth quarter points.

Boston Celtics guard Kyrie Irving reacts after a referee call while facing the Charlotte Hornets in the first half of an NBA basketball game Saturday, March 23, 2019, in Charlotte, N.C. (AP PhotoJason E. Miczek)

In front of a sellout crowd of 19,438 at Spectrum Center, Irving scored 16 first-quarter points as the Celtics appeared to take control of the game.

But Charlotte rallied and closed within 64-63 at halftime.

The Celtics built an 18-point lead with 8:22 left. Charlotte scored on 12 of its last 19 possessions to catch and pass Boston. Walker scored his 18 fourth quarter points in the final 7:43, including two clinching free throws with 5.9 seconds left.

Boston Celtics guard Kyrie Irving (11) moves past Charlotte Hornets defender Mailik Monk in the first half of an NBA basketball game Saturday, March 23, 2019, in Charlotte, N.C. (AP PhotoJason E. Miczek)

Boston scored twice on its final 20 offensive posessions.

TIP INS

Celtics: Aron Baynes (left ankle sprain) and Gordon Hayward (concussion protocol) could be back in action on Sunday, though neither was in Charlotte with the team. Baynes injured his ankle in Wednesday's 118-115 loss at Philadelphia and Hayward missed his third game on Saturday. The Celtics lost another player, 6-foot-10 rookie Robert Williams, who suffered a lower back injury when he landed hard after missing a follow dunk in the second quarter.

Boston Celtics forward Marcus Morris, left, is swarmed by the Charlotte Hornets defense in the first half of an NBA basketball game Saturday, March 23, 2019, in Charlotte, N.C. (AP PhotoJason E. Miczek)

Hornets: Cody Zeller (left knee) missed his sixth straight game and Michael Kidd-Gilchrist (concussion protocol) his second straight game on Saturday. Nicolas Batum also missed Saturday's game — his second of the year — due to illness.

UP NEXT

Celtics: Host San Antonio on Sunday.

Boston Celtics forward Semi Ojeleye (37) gets tripped up while shooting against the Charlotte Hornets in the first half of an NBA basketball game Saturday, March 23, 2019, in Charlotte, N.C. (AP PhotoJason E. Miczek)

Hornets: Visit Toronto on Sunday.

More AP NBA: https://apnews.com/NBA and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

Charlotte Hornets guard Dwayne Bacon (7) reaches for a basket while being covered by Boston Celtics defenders Kyrie Irving (11) and Robert Williams (44) in the first half of an NBA basketball game Saturday, March 23, 2019, in Charlotte, N.C. (AP PhotoJason E. Miczek)

Boston Celtics guard Kyrie Irving (11) passes around Charlotte Hornets center Bismack Biyombo in the first half of an NBA basketball game Saturday, March 23, 2019, in Charlotte, N.C. (AP PhotoJason E. Miczek)

ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) — Paolo Banchero had 31 points and 14 rebounds, Jalen Suggs added 24 points and the Orlando Magic handed Cleveland the worst playoff loss in franchise history, winning 121-83 on Thursday night to cut the Cavaliers’ lead to 2-1 in their Eastern Conference first-round series.

Franz Wagner finished with 16 points and eight assists for the Magic, who led by 43 points in the fourth quarter on the way to the third-largest margin of victory in a playoff game. They earned their first playoff victory since 2019 and the first on their home floor since April 26, 2011.

They can even the series with a victory at home Sunday.

Jarrett Allen had 15 points and eight rebounds for the Cavaliers, who shot 39% from the field and 23.5% from 3-point range. Caris LeVert added 15 points and Donovan Mitchell had 13 points and seven assists.

76ERS 125, KNICKS 114

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Joel Embiid scored 50 points, making all four 3-point attempts and scoring 18 in a potential series-shifting third quarter to lead Philadelphia to a win over New York in Game 3 of their Eastern Conference first-round series.

Embiid boldly stated “we’re going to win this series” after the 76ers dropped Game 2.

With one of the finest postseason efforts of his career, Embiid became the third player to ever score 50 points against the Knicks in the postseason and kept the hope of a Philadelphia series comeback very much alive.

The Knicks lead the series 2-1. Game 4 is Sunday in Philadelphia.

Embiid was 13 of 19 from the floor overall, made 19 of 21 free throws and hit five 3-pointers.

NUGGETS 112, LAKERS 105

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Aaron Gordon had 29 points and 15 rebounds, Nikola Jokic added 24 points, 15 rebounds and nine assists, and Denver moved to the brink of the second round with a victory over the Los Angeles Lakers in Game 3 of their first-round series..

Jamal Murray scored 22 points as the defending NBA champion Nuggets won their 11th consecutive meeting with LeBron James and the Lakers in dominating style.

Michael Porter Jr. added 20 points for Denver, which took control in the third quarter and cruised through the final minutes to its fifth straight road win over Los Angeles, starting with its sweep of last season’s Western Conference finals.

Game 4 is Saturday night in Los Angeles. No NBA team has ever rallied from an 0-3 playoff deficit.

Orlando Magic guard Cole Anthony (50) makes a shot as he gets past Cleveland Cavaliers guard Sam Merrill (5) during the second half of Game 3 of an NBA basketball first-round playoff series Thursday, April 25, 2024, in Orlando, Fla. (AP Photo/John Raoux)