Walker leads team vs Warriors; Bobcats ruin Curry’s return

CHARLOTTE, North Carolina(AP) – Kemba Walker scored 27 of his 31 points in the second half as the Charlotte Bobcats ruined Stephen Curry’s homecoming with a wire-to-wire 115-111 victory over the Golden State Warriors on Monday night.

Curry overcame a slow start to finish with a season-high 43 points, 32 of them coming in the second half.

Curry, a Charlotte native who burst on the national scene while playing at nearby Davidson College, scored 19 points in the fourth quarter, including a 27-footer with a hand in his face, to cut the Bobcats’ lead to 111-109 with 11 seconds left.

But the Warriors couldn’t contain Walker, and the point guard hit four free throws in the final 11 seconds to seal the victory.

Gerald Henderson had 24 points and Josh McRoberts had 11 points and 10 rebounds for the Bobcats, who won their second straight game.

In Sacramento, California, DeMarcus Cousins had 32 points and 19 rebounds and Derrick Williams scored a career-high 31 to pace Sacramento to a 112-97 victory over Dallas.

Earlier in the day, the Kings completed a seven-player deal with Toronto that brought them Rudy Gay, Aaron Gray and Quincy Acy. Greivis Vasquez, Patrick Patterson, John Salmons and Chuck Hayes went to the Raptors.

Using just 10 players, the Kings led by 19 points after three quarters and by as many as 24 points in the fourth in winning their second straight.

Monta Ellis had 21 points for the Mavericks, who had won three straight, including the last two on the road. The loss also ended a five-game win streak against the Kings.

In Philadelphia, Blake Griffin scored 26 points and Chris Paul added 25 points and 13 assists as the short-handed Los Angeles Clippers defeated the Philadelphia 76ers, 94-83.

DeAndre Jordan had 11 points and a season-high 21 rebounds, and Jared Dudley scored 10 points for the Clippers, who won their second straight. The Clippers are 2-1 on a seven-game road trip.

Los Angeles played without J.J. Redick (injuries to right hand and wrist), Reggie Bullock (sprained left ankle), Maalik Wayns (left knee) and Matt Barnes (torn retina in left eye).

Evan Turner scored 25 points and Thaddeus Young added 16 points and 11 rebounds for the Sixers, who struggled once again without Michael Carter-Williams. The Sixers are 1-6 without their floor leader, who missed his third straight game with a skin infection.

In Washington, Wilson Chandler scored 17 points, Nate Robinson added 16, and Kenneth Faried had a key block and transition dunk with 33 seconds left to lift Denver past Washington, 75-74.

Washington had three possessions after Faried put Denver ahead, but John Wall missed a layup, Trevor Ariza missed a 3-pointer, Chandler blocked a layup try by Garrett Temple, and Robinson stripped the ball from Wall in the closing seconds.

Chandler also had eight rebounds to help the Nuggets rally from 12 points down in the second half, and Robinson helped the Denver reserves outscore their depleted Washington counterparts 34-5.

Wall finished with 20 points and eight assists, Marcin Gortat scored 16 points, and Trevor Booker added 12 points and 12 rebounds for the Wizards.

In Salt Lake City, LaMarcus Aldridge scored 24 points and Damian Lillard added 17 to propel Portland past Utah, 105-94.