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RECAP
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BOX SCORE
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GAME FLOW
ATLANTA (AP) – Baron Davis is proving the Charlotte Hornets were
wise to make him the third overall draft pick of 1999.
|  | | Hornets guard Baron Davis drives past the Hawks' Jason Terry. |
"There aren't many players who just show up in the NBA and are
immediately successful," the former UCLA standout guard said.
"You've got to take your lumps and go through some tough times to
know what it takes to win. Nothing comes easy."
Davis scored a career-high 28 points and David Wesley added 17
as the Charlotte Hornets won their sixth straight game, 105-99 over
the Atlanta Hawks on Friday night.
Davis' running 5-foot jumper cut Atlanta's lead to 91-89 with
6:19 left, and he followed with consecutive 3-pointers -- the last with
4:20 remaining -- to put Charlotte ahead for good.
Hitting nine of 13 field goal attempts, including a 5-for-6
effort in the fourth quarter, Davis recovered from cold shooting in
the last three games when he went a combined 10-for-39 and missed
all nine of his 3-point attempts.
"I was really loose," Davis said. "I had a lot of confidence
in myself. I know I can score down the stretch, but you've got to
go out there and get it done. That's the only thing that counts."
Wesley fell down as he nailed a 20-footer from the top of the
key to give the Hornets a 99-95 advantage with 2:24 to go.
Toni Kukoc scored a season-high 27 points in a reserve role for
the Hawks, who lost their sixth straight. Jason Terry finished with
26 points.
"We did play a little better but we have to learn how to close
out games," said Kukoc, playing in his second game with the Hawks.
"It doesn't matter how you play if you're going to lose the game.
But we did have our chances."
Atlanta, which has dropped 13 of 15, 19 of 23 and five straight
at home, was brutal down the stretch. In their last 10 possessions,
the Hawks committed three turnovers and made only two of eight
shots.
"Regardless of what their record says, they came out and played
aggressively," said Jamal Mashburn, who had 13 points and eight
rebounds. "They made some good shots, but we came up with some big
plays. We have a knack for winning in the fourth quarter."
Charlotte, which rallied from a late 12-point deficit Wednesday
in a 91-88 victory over New Jersey, trailed by as many as 10 points
after Nazr Mohammed hit a turnaround jumper at the outset of the
fourth quarter.
Terry found some reason for encouragement.
"It was definitely a different mentality than last game," he
said. "I think the chemistry is coming along. Toni is an excellent
player. He played with the best, so he's going to make everyone
around here better."
Game notes
The Hawks visit San Antonio on Saturday, where they have
lost two straight and five of six. ... Charlotte is now 6-0 since
Derrick Coleman's most recent trip to the injured list with a
strained left calf Feb. 17.
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ALSO SEE
NBA Scoreboard
Charlotte Clubhouse
Atlanta Clubhouse
RECAPS
Seattle 86
Indiana 83
Philadelphia 107
Washington 102
Charlotte 105
Atlanta 99
Boston 103
Utah 99
Orlando 120
Cleveland 94
Toronto 107
New Jersey 90
Miami 97
Detroit 93
Chicago 81
New York 72
Minnesota 89
Denver 71
LA Clippers 88
Sacramento 81
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