Bobcats rally past Pistons
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}
Auburn Hills, MI (SportsNetwork.com) - Kemba Walker dropped a season-high 34 points in the Charlotte Bobcats' 116-106 come-from-behind win over the Detroit Pistons.
Walker shot 12-of-17 from the floor and made all nine of his free throw attempts as Charlotte won its third straight tilt on the heels of a three-game losing skid.
Al Jefferson added 24 points -- 15 of which came in the fourth quarter -- and 14 rebounds in the victory, and Gerald Henderson poured in 22 with eight boards.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}
"It was our defense early in the fourth," said Bobcats head coach Steve Clifford. "Then Al, late, was terrific."
Jeff Taylor, starting in place of an injured Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, left the contest in the first minute with a right Achilles injury and did not return. The team announced he will undergo further testing on Saturday to determine the extent of the injury.
Brandon Jennings led six Pistons in double figures with 26 points. Josh Smith had 18, Andre Drummond recorded a 14-point, 15-rebound double-double and Greg Monroe tallied 13 points with nine boards as Detroit fell to 2-6 in its last eight home games.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}
"We tend to get relaxed in the fourth quarter when we get a certain lead," said Drummond. "We gave it away, that's what it came down to. We gave the game away tonight."
The Pistons led by as many as 20 points in the first half and 59-44 at halftime. They looked well on their way to a blowout victory, extending the lead to 18 points on multiple occasions late in the third. Drummond's short jumper made it 89-71 with 59 seconds left in the frame, but Ramon Sessions and Walker scored to cap the frame and give Charlotte momentum heading into the decisive fourth.
The Bobcats opened the final period with the first nine points to draw within five at 89-84. Then Jefferson checked back in.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}
Jefferson came alive, scoring on three straight possessions to give the Bobcats a 100-99 edge with 4:14 to play. Walker then canned a 3 as the Palace of Auburn Hills fell silent.
Jefferson netted the next seven Charlotte points to put the game away.
Game Notes
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}
Pistons' sixth man Rodney Stuckey missed his second straight game with a shoulder injury ... Josh Harrelson and Kyle Singler scored 12 and 10 points, respectively, for Detroit off the bench ... The Bobcats improved to .500 (6-6) on the road this season.