Shorthanded Hornets win fourth straight

TORONTO — The Charlotte Hornets are depleted by injuries, but several players have been willing to step up and it showed Thursday as they defeated the Toronto Raptors 103-95.

It was the fourth win in a row for the Hornets, who had only nine available players because of injuries to center Al Jefferson and others.

“Our team has done well in the last four games because a lot of guys have contributed,” said guard Gerald Henderson, who led all scorers with 31 points. “With Al out, obviously there are going to be different guys getting some of those shots.”

Guard Kemba Walker added 29 points, grabbed seven rebounds and dished out eight assists as the Hornets handed the Raptors their fourth loss in a row.

“We just took the shots that were open,” Walker said. “We made some big plays, especially Gerald. He was unbelievable tonight.”

The Raptors shot 39.8 percent while the Hornets shot 47.7 percent.

“There’s going to nights where your shot’s just not going to fall and that type of thing,” Raptors coach Dwane Casey said. “They’re a good defensive team, but you have to have some backbone on the defensive end.”

The Hornets swept all three games from the Raptors last season.

“I think we get up to play them,” Henderson said. “They are a really good team, second in the East. They have been playing great this season, so we just know we have to bring our best game.”

The Hornets led by 15 points in the third quarter, but the Raptors cut it to two points early in the fourth quarter before the Hornets regrouped.

Walker hit a 3-pointer in the final two minutes to extend the Hornets’ lead to 10 points and it proved vital because Toronto crept back to within four in the final minute.

Forward Marvin Williams added 13 points and grabbed nine rebounds for Charlotte (14-24). Forward Michael Kidd-Gilchrist had 10 points and 12 rebounds.

Guard Kyle Lowry tallied 24 points, seven assists and seven rebounds for Toronto (24-11). Reserve guard Lou Williams scored 15 points, and guard Greivis Vasquez added 11. Center Jonas Valanciunas chipped in with 10 points and six rebounds.

“It happens,” Lowry said. “It’s a long season and I don’t even know how many games we’ve played. We could possibly run off 10 in a row and this four-game skid will be forgotten.”

The current losing string is the Raptors’ longest since they lost five straight Nov. 26 to Dec. 6, 2013.

The Hornets led by as many as 10 points before finishing the first quarter with a 31-23 lead.

Lowry gave Toronto a 50-48 lead with 57.4 seconds left in the first half on a driving layup and a free throw. The Raptors closed the half up 52-50.

The Hornets took an 11-point lead in the first five minutes of the third quarter, with Henderson scoring eight points.

Lowry responded with a 3-pointer for Toronto. The Hornets came back to take a 15-point lead on a pull-up jumper by Walker with 3:21 to play in the third.

Williams converted three free throws at the end of the quarter to cut Charlotte’s lead to 75-66.

Vasquez opened the fourth quarter with a 3-pointer to start a 7-0 run for the Raptors that cut the deficit to two points.

A 3-pointer by Marvin Williams and two free throws by Henderson got the lead up to seven points.

A 3-pointer by guard Terrence Ross trimmed the deficit to three points.

Henderson bumped the lead to five on a layup with 4:27 left. Henderson’s two free throws made it 91-84 with 3:21 to play.

“I think he’s doing a good job in transition and in the half court of finding areas where he can just put the ball on the floor and use his quickness,” Hornets coach Steve Clifford said of Henderson.

Walker’s 3-pointer with 1:55 to play boosted the Hornets to a 10-point lead.

The Raptors cut the deficit to six on two free throws by Lowry, and it was down to four points on a tip shot by forward Patrick Patterson with 42.3 seconds left.

Walker hit a 22-foot jump shot with 19.6 seconds left for a six-point lead.

“Tonight, we sucked as a team and we have to figure it out soon,” Lowry said.

NOTES: G DeMar DeRozan (torn adductor longus tendon) said his injury has healed, but he needs more practice time before returning. He missed his 19th straight game on Thursday. … Hornets C Al Jefferson (left groin strain) missed his sixth consecutive game, G Jannero Pargo (back) sat out for the ninth straight time and G Lance Stephenson (pelvic strain) was out for the 13th successive game. … G P.J. Hairston (illness) did not make the trip to Toronto and F Cody Zeller (right shoulder strain) did not play. … The Raptors host the Boston Celtics on Saturday to continue a six-game homestand from Thursday through Jan. 18. The Hornets visit the New York Knicks on Saturday afternoon.