| |
|
NBA PLAYOFFS -- Kemba's star is rising
By Eugene Nepangue PhilBoxing.com Thu, 28 Apr 2016

CHARLOTTE -- After 12 agonizing years, the Charlotte Hornets finally won another playoffs game when they toppled the Miami Heat, 115-97, in Game 3 of their ongoing opening round series last week. Two nights later, at the Time Warner Cable Arena, the Hornets toppled the Heat anew, 89-85, tying the best-of-7 duel at 2-2.
Of the many players that point to Charlotte's success, no Hornet is shining brighter than Kemba Walker, the 6-foot-1, 175-pound scoring machine out of the University of the Connecticut.
The 9th overall pick in the 2011 NBA draft, Walker is heating up this postseason. Through four games thus far, the 25-year old is averaging 24.8 points per while shooting a staggering 95.8 percent from the free throw stripe. In Game 4 against the Heat, Walker exploded for 34 points, pulling the 6th seeded Hornets even with No.3 ranked Miami.
Beating the mighty Heat twice required help from other Hornets. And that hasn't been an issue thus far as reserve guard Jeremy Lin (14.8 points, 2.5 assists per game) and center Al Jefferson (14.3 points, 6.3 rebounds per) have stepped up to the plate and delivered. Big men Cody Zeller and Frank Kaminsky had put in their fair share as well, combining for 15.1 points and 9.6 boards a contest.
But so far, it's looking like the Hornets can only go as far as Kemba can take them, especially now that Nicolas Batum is out with an injury, creating a huge scoring void.
With the series now reduced to three games and Miami hosting Games 5 and 7 (if necessary) at the AmericanAirlines Arena, the road the second round remains an uphill climb for Charlotte. But so long as they have a healthy Kemba Walker, these Hornets will always have a puncher's chance.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Eugene Nepangue.
Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:
Boxing, Mixed Martial Arts and Ju-jitsu in Thailand SEA Games By Lito delos Reyes, , Sat, 06 Dec 2025Mapua, IIEE Singapore and IM Concio wins the 7th IIEE ANC Cup co-awarded by GM Torre By Marlon Bernardino, , Sat, 06 Dec 2025Pontinos to see action in PH Jetski in SEA Games By Lito delos Reyes, , Sat, 06 Dec 2025Pitbull vs. Roach Jr & Co-Headliner Foster vs. Fulton Make for Solid PPV By Chris Carlson, , Sat, 06 Dec 2025Weights from Philadelphia , Sat, 06 Dec 2025MONTE-CARLO SHOWDOWN VI WEIGH-IN RESULTS AND FIGHT NIGHT RUNNING ORDER CONFIRMED WITH MASOUD AND McGRAIL SET TO BATTLE , Sat, 06 Dec 2025Herlan Gomez, Jason Moloney Make Weight for WBC Australasia Bantamweight Battle in Australia By Carlos Costa, , Fri, 05 Dec 2025OLYMPIC BOXING 5: 1928 OLYMPICS AT AMSTERDAM, NETHERLANDS By Maloney L. Samaco, , Fri, 05 Dec 2025MONTE-CARLO SHOWDOWN VI PRESS CONFERENCE QUOTES , Fri, 05 Dec 2025Class of 2026 Announced in Canastota , Fri, 05 Dec 2025Thailand’s Niyomtrong “Knockout CPF” Decisions Junior Zárate, Becomes World Champion Again By Carlos Costa, , Fri, 05 Dec 2025WORLD RANKED FILIPINO BOXERS AS OF DECEMBER 2025 BY THE RING, WBC, WBA, IBF, AND WBO By Maloney L. Samaco, , Fri, 05 Dec 2025Shinard Bunch Takes on John Paul Magalong on Tuesday, January 13th at The UFC Gym North Brunswick in North Brunswick, NJ , Fri, 05 Dec 2025Severino and Mendoza win Blitz Asian Chess Championship for Players with Disabilities By Marlon Bernardino, , Fri, 05 Dec 2025Herlan Gomez Departs for Australia for Moloney Fight Saturday on DAZN By Carlos Costa, , Thu, 04 Dec 2025KENNETH LLOVER DEFENDS OPBF TITLE IN FOURTH FIGHT OF 2025 , Thu, 04 Dec 2025Canoy, Mama, Into Contend in IBA Men’s World Boxing Championships in Dubai By Lito delos Reyes, , Thu, 04 Dec 2025CHAMPIONING MENTAL HEALTH 2: REMATCH SEASON FULL FIGHT CARD SET , Thu, 04 Dec 2025MERRY FISTMAS! World-Ranked KO Artist Ramon Cardenas Faces Erik Robles in ProBoxTV Main Event at War Memorial Auditorium in Fort Lauderdale, Thursday, December 18 , Thu, 04 Dec 2025THE PAST WEEK IN ACTION 2 DECEMBER 2025: Kavaliauskas Wins by Split Decision Over Molina; Whittaker Stops Gavazi in 1; Malajika Wins by UD Over Paras By Eric Armit, , Wed, 03 Dec 2025WBC Strips Terence Crawford of Super Middle Title By Gabriel F. Cordero, , Wed, 03 Dec 2025Soledad wins WBC Asian Continental title By Lito delos Reyes, , Wed, 03 Dec 2025A night of power, legacy, and UAE pride: IBA Men’s World Boxing Championships opens in spectacular fashion in Dubai , Wed, 03 Dec 2025OKC Thunder is NBA 2025-2026 Strongest Team By Gabriel F. Cordero, , Wed, 03 Dec 2025Who was Clever Sison? By Joaquin Henson, , Wed, 03 Dec 2025 |

|
|
|
|
|