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Hot-Shooting Hornets Hammer Bulls 130-105 For 1st Victory

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — Jeremy Lamb scored 20 points on 9-of-10 shooting, Nicolas Batum added 18 and the Charlotte Hornets cruised to their first victory of the season, 130-105 over the Chicago Bulls on Tuesday night.

Jeremy Lin had 15 points, Al Jefferson had 14 and Spencer Hawes chipped in with 13 on three 3-pointers as the hot-shooting Hornets shot 14 of 22 from beyond the arc and made 22 of 23 free throws.

The Hornets (1-3) led by as many as 27 in the second quarter after starting the game by hitting 13 of 18 shots from the field and all 11 foul shots in the first quarter. The Bulls never mounted a serious challenge.

Jimmy Butler led the Bulls (3-2) with a season-high 26 points on 10-of-16 shooting, while Doug McDermott added 17 points.

The Hornets were coming off back-to-back losses to the Atlanta Hawks, games in which Kemba Walker failed to make the tying shot at the end of regulation.

They didn't need a last-second shot on Tuesday night. Everything seemed to be falling for the Hornets.

Even the team mascot, wearing a thick Hornets costume, made an over-the-shoulder shot from midcourt during a break in the action in the fourth quarter to the delight of the home crowd.

With team owner Michael Jordan sitting on the end of the team bench, the Hornets tailed 100 points in the first three quarters, the most points allowed during that span by the Bulls since 1990.

Charlotte did it with good ball movement and quality shooting from everyone, including 7-footers Hawes and Frank Kaminsky, who were a combined 4 of 4 from beyond the arc. The Hornets played near flawless ball on offense and the Bulls were slow to get a hand up on open shooters. Charlotte made them pay, knocking down shot after shot from long distance.

TIP-INS

Bulls: The Bulls committed 13 turnovers that led to Charlotte 20 points. ... Pau Gasol had 13 points and eight rebounds.

Hornets: Cody Zeller needed eight stitches on his forehead after catching an elbow from Joakim Noah on a rebound, but did return. ... Walker moved into a tie for fourth place on 3-point field goals made in Hornets history.

UP NEXT

Bulls: Host Oklahoma City on Thursday night.

Hornets: Visit Dallas on Thursday night.

(© 2015 by STATS LLC and Associated Press. Any commercial use or distribution without the express written consent of STATS LLC and Associated Press is strictly prohibited.)

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