NBA: Walker's 52 points, including 9 in 2nd overtime period, help Charlotte fend off Utah

Fans of the Charlotte Hornets cheer on their team during their game against the Utah Jazz on Jan 18, 2016. PHOTO: AFP

CHARLOTTE (REUTERS) - Kemba Walker poured in a career- and franchise-high 52 points on 16-of-34 shooting to lead the Charlotte Hornets to a 124-119 double-overtime victory over the Utah Jazz on Monday in one of the National Basketball Association's afternoon games in honour of the Martin Luther King Jr holiday.

Walker scored nine points in the second overtime, including a difference-making three-pointer with 2min 53sec remaining that pushed Charlotte's lead to 116-110. Both Walker and Hornets centre Cody Zeller had four free throws apiece in the final 36.3 seconds to fend off a three-pointer from Utah guard Trey Burke and secure the triumph.

In other NBA games on Monday -

Knicks 119 76ers 113 (2OT): The New York Knicks, who led by as many as 18 points in the third quarter, knocked off Philadelphia in double-overtime at Madison Square Garden.

Carmelo Anthony returned to the Knicks' line-up after missing two games with a sprained ankle. He scored 19 points, grabbed seven rebounds and had seven assists in 49 minutes.

Rookie Jahlil Okafor led the 76ers with 20 points despite sitting out the fourth quarter and both overtime periods.

Trail Blazers 108 Wizards 98: C.J. McCollum scored 25 points and Portland pulled away with a 23-1 run in the third quarter to beat Washington.

Meyers Leonard had 18 points and Damian Lillard scored 16 for the Trail Blazers, who led by as many as 24 points in the fourth quarter.

Garrett Temple scored 18 points for the Wizards, who have lost two straight after reaching .500 following a four-game winning streak.

Grizzlies 101 Pelicans 99: Mike Conley posted a double-double with 15 points and 10 assists in his first game back from an Achilles injury as Memphis defeated New Orleans.

Conley missed six games with soreness in his left Achilles and coach Dave Joerger held him to 28 minutes.

Marc Gasol also had a double-double with 16 points, 10 rebounds and six assists, two steals and a block for the Grizzlies. The Jazz got 21 points, eight rebounds and three blocks from Anthony Davis and Ryan Anderson added 14 points off the bench.

Bulls 111 Pistons 101: Pau Gasol had a season-high 31 points and grabbed 12 rebounds to lead Chicago past Detroit.

Derrick Rose fired in 20 points and shooting guard Jimmy Butler contributed 16 points and nine assists for the Bulls. Chicago were playing their first game since centre Joakim Noah suffered a dislocated left shoulder on Friday.

Ersan Ilyasova led Detroit with 19 points and 11 rebounds.

Hawks 98 Magic 81: Forward Al Horford paced a balanced Atlanta attack, and the Hawks put away the struggling Orlando Magic in a 98-81 win in a Martin Luther King Day matinee at Philips Arena.

Horford led six Hawks in double figures with 15 points, and forward Paul Millsap added 14 points and grabbed 13 rebounds.

Forward Aaron Gordon had 18 points off the bench to lead the Magic, who have faded since a strong December. Point guard Elfrid Payton added 16 points, and centre Nikola Vucevic added 10 points and 11 rebounds for the Magic (20-20).

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