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Sports

Bobcats try to match last season's win total against Hawks

By Sports Network
Published | Updated

The surprising Charlotte Bobcats look to close out a four- game homestand with a winning record when they entertain the Southeast Division-rival Atlanta Hawks Friday night at Time Warner Cable Arena.

The Bobcats are 2-1 on the residency and have won five of six games since a three-game slide. They can match last season's win total with a victory over the Hawks and recorded a 98-97 triumph Wednesday versus the Toronto Raptors.

Ramon Sessions scored the go-ahead basket with 28.3 seconds to go and finished with 14 points and six assists. Kemba Walker scored a team-high 19 points to go with seven assists, while rookie Michael Kidd-Gilchrist netted 14 points for Charlotte, which improved to 5-0 in games decided by four points or less this season. Last season, the Bobcats were 3-10 in those games.

"It's about sacrificing and coming together as a group," Walker said. "So far, we've really come together as a team and are just really having fun out there."

Charlotte's 6-4 mark tied the 2007-08 squad for the best 10-game start in franchise history, and the team has won five of six games for the first time since Jan. 18-28, 2011. The Bobcats also surpassed last season's total of four wins as the host.

The Bobcats, who are holding opposing teams to 91.5 ppg in the past six contests, are 4-0 against teams from the East in 2012-13. In more stats news, Walker and Sessions each have scored in double digits in every game. Kidd- Gilchrist is averaging 13.8 ppg over the previous six.

Charlotte will begin a three-game road trip Saturday against the Wizards, Thunder and Hawks.

Atlanta has won three in a row and four of five games, and just barely got by the winless Wizards on Wednesday. Kyle Korver hit a 3-pointer with 1.9 seconds to go in the extra period and ended with 16 points. Korver made 5-of-12 from downtown, while Josh Smith led the way with 25 points and 12 rebounds.

Al Horford had a double-double of his own with 15 points and 10 assists, falling a rebound shy of a triple-double with nine boards.

"A lot of guys came through and made some big plays," Korver said.

After Friday's game in Charlotte, the Hawks will return home for five straight games versus the Clippers, Bobcats, Cavaliers, Nuggets and Wizards.

Atlanta, which ranks first in the NBA with 18.6 forced turnovers, won all four meetings with Charlotte last season and is 8-3 in the past 11 contests in this series.