NBA News Wire
Bobcats 105, Nuggets 98
Jeff Hawkins is an award-winning sportswriter with more than four decades in the industry (print and digital media). A freelance writer/stay-at-home dad since 2008, Hawkins started his career with newspaper stints in Michigan, North Carolina, Florida, Upstate New York and Illinois, where he earned the 2004 APSE first-place award for column writing (under 40,000 circulation). As a beat writer, he covered NASCAR Winston Cup events at NHIS (1999-2003), the NHL's Chicago Blackhawks (2003-06) and the NFL's Carolina Panthers (2011-12). Hawkins penned four youth sports books, including a Michael Jordan biography. Hawkins' main hobbies include mountain bike riding, 5k trail runs at the Whitewater Center in Charlotte, N.C., and live music.
All posts by Jeff HawkinsUpdated15 Oct 2021
CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Center Al Jefferson had 26 points and 13 rebounds, guard Kemba Walker scored 24 points, and newly acquired guard Gary Neal scored 19 as the Charlotte Bobcats beat the Denver Nuggets 105-98 on Monday night.
The Bobcats led by as many as 12 points in the first half and by as many as 14 in the second half as they matched a franchise record by winning their seventh straight at home.
They are now 30-34 and comfortably in the No. 7 spot in the Eastern Conference standings.
Jefferson scored 16 of his points in the first half, and although he cooled off in the second half, he still finished 12-of-23 from the field.
Walker was just 6-of-15 from the field, but was a perfect 12-of-12 from the foul line.
Neal, acquired at the trade deadline from Milwaukee, hit his first seven shots, including three from 3-point range. It was his highest scoring output with the Bobcats.
The Bobcats also got 15 points from forward Josh McRoberts.
The Nuggets fell to 27-36 and lost for the eighth time in their last 10 games.
Guard Ty Lawson led the Nuggets with 24 points, after being held to two in the first half. Guard Aaron Brooks scored 16, forward Kenneth Faried had 15 points and nine rebounds, and center J.J. Hickson scored 11 points.
Charlotte led 25-22 after one quarter, 51-45 at halftime, and 79-68 after three quarters. The Nuggets never got closer than five, in the final minute.
NOTES: The Bobcats and Nuggets met for the second and final time this season. The Bobcats won 101-98 in Denver on Jan. 29. … The Nuggets played the second game on a five-game Eastern trip. They lost to the New Orleans Pelicans 111-107 in overtime on Sunday. Next up is a Wednesday game against the Magic in Orlando. … Denver committed a season-high 27 turnovers at New Orleans. … Bobcats G Gerald Henderson (right calf strain) missed his fifth consecutive game, but coach Steve Clifford said that Henderson should be ready to play Wednesday at Washington. … The Nuggets were without F Danilo Gallinari (left ACL tear), C JaVale McGee (stress fracture left tibia) and G Nate Robinson (left ACL sprain).
