Hornets’ Michael Kidd-Gilchrist Suffers Tear in Shoulder

Kemba Walker and Jeremy Lamb got a chance to reminisce Wednesday night. Walker kept penetrating through open lanes to the basket, and when he wasn’t scoring his teammates were.

“I don’t know much about (Indiana), but I do feel like we really wanted it and came out with a great intensity early on”, Walker said. Still, the unorthodox move did little to snap the Pacers back into the game and out of their vacation plans.

The bigger problem showed up on defense. Something far greater than facing a bad opponent: They had to stay focused long enough to play the final game before the extended All-Star break.

But Charlotte had all the answers.

Jeremy Lin spurred the decisive second-quarter charge by scoring half of his 14 points during the initial spurt. Charlotte maintained its double-figure lead when Batum dunked for a 77-64 advantage with 3:16 left in the quarter.

Also before halftime, the Hornets took a blow when Kidd-Gilchrist exited the court with dislocated right shoulder. Kidd-Gilchrist remained on the floor for several seconds, grimacing in pain.

Pacers: F Jordan Hill left during the first half with a dislocated ring finger and did not return…. His presence was immediately felt as Charlotte won five of its last seven games. Walker finished with 25 points and 7 rebounds, and has been on a roll since coming off that one game rest due to some knee pain.

The Pacers shot only 43.5 percent from the field in their most lopsided home loss this season. The Pacers started their big lineup with C Ian Mahinmi and rookie PF Myles Turner in place of C.J. Miles….

Pacers: Rodney Stuckey- out (right foot). Vogel hopes Stuckey can return to practice next week. Their next game is February 19 on the road against the Milwaukee Bucks.