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Raptors rally past Hornets to snap 3-game losing streak
Associated Press

Kyle Lowry scored 21 points and all of Toronto’s starters finished in double figures as the host Raptors erased a 17-point fourth quarter deficit to beat the Charlotte Hornets, 90-85, on Wednesday night.

Lowry, who also had six rebounds and six assists, had a 3-point play to break an 82-82 tie with 1:40 to go. After Delon Wright’s layup made it a 5-point game, Nicolas Batum hit a 3 for Charlotte to pull the Hornets within 2, but DeMarre Carroll responded with a 3 with 7.4 seconds to go to ice it and help the Raptors end a three-game losing streak.

Norman Powell had 17 points and Jonas Valanciunas had 10 points and 11 rebounds as the Raptors won for just the fifth time in the past 16 games.

Frank Kaminsky had a game-high 27 points, and Kemba Walker added 24 points and nine assists for Charlotte, which dropped its fourth straight and 11th consecutive road game.

The Raptors entered the fourth quarter down, 75-58, but quickly erased the Hornets’ 17-point lead.

Lowry and Cory Joseph each hit a pair of 3s as Toronto began the final quarter by outscoring the Hornets, 20-2, over the first 4:49 to surge into a 78-77 lead.

Walker banked in a runner from the key with 3:06 to play for Charlotte’s first field goal of the fourth quarter, cutting Toronto’s lead to 82-79.

Kaminsky then tied it with a 3 with 1:54 to go in the fourth.

Charlotte took a 75-58 lead into the final quarter on the strength of a dominant third.

The Hornets outscored the Raptors, 34-14, in the period, shooting a sizzling 77 percent from the field compared with just 25 percent for Toronto.

The Hornets opened the quarter on an 8-0 run to take the lead for the first time since the opening quarter as the Raptors missed their first seven shots of the second half.

Kaminsky led the way for the Hornets in the third period with 15 points.

The Hornets closed the third quarter on a 13-3 run over the final 3:46, prompting the Toronto fans to boo the Raptors off the court when the horn sounded to end the period.

Toronto took a 44-41 lead into the halftime break, but the Raptors led by as many as 14 points early in the second quarter before Walker got hot.

Walker hit all four 3s he attempted in the quarter, including three in a 48-second stretch. He led all scorers at the half with 15 points, 12 in the second period.

While the Hornets shot just 38 from the field in the second quarter, they were able to make up ground on the scoreboard against the woeful Raptors, who hit only 26 percent of their shots in the period.

Cavaliers 113, Pacers 104 — LeBron James scored 31 points, Kyrie Irving added 26, Kyle Korver made six 3-pointers and host Cleveland rolled into the All-Star break with its seventh win in eight games.

Bucks 129, Nets 125 — Giannis Antetokounmpo scored 33 points in his final game before making his All-Star debut, Greg Monroe added 25 and visiting Milwaukee sent Brooklyn to the break on a 14-game skid.

Spurs 107, Magic 79 — LaMarcus Aldridge scored 23 points and Kawhi Leonard added 22, leading visiting San Antonio past Orlando.

San Antonio’s frontcourt took advantage of a Magic team that was down a key player after newly acquired swingman Terrence Ross was unable to suit up because Serge Ibaka didn’t complete his physical in Toronto time. The Magic sent Ibaka to Toronto for Ross and a first-round draft pick Tuesday.

Pelicans 95, Grizzlies 91 — Solomon Hill scored a season-high 23 points and Anthony Davis added 18, including a key basket with 38.8 seconds left that helped New Orleans hold off host Memphis.

Heat 117, Rockets 109 — Hassan Whiteside had 23 points, 14 rebounds and five blocks to help Miami beat host Houston. James Harden had 38 points 12 rebounds and 12 assists for Houston his 15th triple-double of the season.

Pistons 98, Mavericks 91 — Reggie Jackson scored 22 points, Jon Leuer added 20 and host Detroit beat Dallas.

Kentavious Caldwell-Pope had 16 points, and Tobias Harris 13. Dirk Nowitzki had 13 of his 24 points in the third quarter to help the Mavericks rally.

Jazz 111, Trail Blazers 88 — Gordon Hayward scored 22 and George Hill added 19 as host Utah ended a three-game losing streak to Portland.

Timberwolves 112, Nuggets 99 — Andrew Wiggins scored 40 points and Karl-Anthony Towns added 24 points and 18 rebounds in Minnesota’s victory over host Denver.

Suns 137, Lakers 101 — Eric Bledsoe had his third career triple-double, the first for a Phoenix player since November 2015, and Devin Booker scored 23 points to lead the host Suns over Los Angeles .