Guards lead the way to Hornets 100-87 win over the Nets

Kemba Walker scored 29 points and Tony Parker scored 17 of his 19 points in the fourth quarter, and the Hornets avenged Wednesday's loss with a 100-87 win over the Brooklyn Nets.

The Hornets came out of the gate on fire. Jeremy Lamb scored 13 points in just over six minutes while the Nets struggled to 6 points as a team in that same time. Cody Zeller chipped in 10 points of his own, and the duo combined for 25 of the Hornets first 28 points. A cold spell let the Nets creep closer before a Tony Parker jumper at the buzzer put the Hornets back up 16.

That cold spell continued into the game's second frame. After scoring 22 points in the first six minutes of the first quarter, the Hornets managed just six in the same amount of time in the second. The Nets were able to cut the deficit to eight, but a Malik Monk driving layup forced a timeout with the Hornets back up double figures. The Hornets were able to maintain that buffer into the break, and a late Walker jumper but the Hornets up 54-42 at the half. Lamb finished the half with 19 points while Zeller chipped in 15 of his own.

Kemba Walker ignited the Hornets in the second half. He scored 10 points in four minutes to the Nets six. Meanwhile, Marvin Williams and Nicolas Batum struggled with the officiating; they both were given technical fouls early in the period. The Nets again went into their zone defense as the Hornets filtered their bench unit in, and the Hornets again struggled to break it down. After three quarters, the Hornets lead had been reduced to eight.

The two teams played the first part of the final quarter to a virtual draw. Both teams struggled to score, and the Hornets kept the Nets at arm's length. D'Angelo Russell got hot midway through the quarter, but Tony Parker matched him shot for shot. Eventually the Russell buckets dried up while the Parker buckets kept pouring in. In all, the Frenchman scored 17 points in the final quarter as he put the visitors away.

The Hornets struggled to generate points for different stretches of the game, but one of their main trio of guards was able to shoulder the load at different points. Cody Zeller and Nicolas Batum each deserve credit for very strong defensive performances, with Zeller even notching a double double.

Up next for the Hornets is a one game road trip to Washington Saturday night.