Kemba Walker was the one Charlotte Hornet assured to start before training camp began, so he could afford to work his way into the preseason.
Walker, a two-time All-Star at point guard, got it going in the third quarter Tuesday, scoring 10 of his 18 points in a 122-113 victory over the Miami Heat at Spectrum Center. The Hornets are 2-1 in the preseason under new coach James Borrego.
The Hornets struggled early, particularly on defense, against a big Heat lineup that featured Gastonia’s Hassan Whiteside at center and Kelly Olynyk at power forward. But the Hornets closed a gap of as many to 14 to five at halftime and pulled away by outscoring Miami 30-19 in the third quarter.