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Friday, Mar. 2 7:30pm ET
Davis has career night in win over Hawks

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ATLANTA (AP) – Baron Davis is proving the Charlotte Hornets were wise to make him the third overall draft pick of 1999.

Baron Davis
Hornets guard Baron Davis drives past the Hawks' Jason Terry.
"There aren't many players who just show up in the NBA and are immediately successful," the former UCLA standout guard said. "You've got to take your lumps and go through some tough times to know what it takes to win. Nothing comes easy."

Davis scored a career-high 28 points and David Wesley added 17 as the Charlotte Hornets won their sixth straight game, 105-99 over the Atlanta Hawks on Friday night.

Davis' running 5-foot jumper cut Atlanta's lead to 91-89 with 6:19 left, and he followed with consecutive 3-pointers -- the last with 4:20 remaining -- to put Charlotte ahead for good. Hitting nine of 13 field goal attempts, including a 5-for-6 effort in the fourth quarter, Davis recovered from cold shooting in the last three games when he went a combined 10-for-39 and missed all nine of his 3-point attempts.

"I was really loose," Davis said. "I had a lot of confidence in myself. I know I can score down the stretch, but you've got to go out there and get it done. That's the only thing that counts."

Wesley fell down as he nailed a 20-footer from the top of the key to give the Hornets a 99-95 advantage with 2:24 to go.

Toni Kukoc scored a season-high 27 points in a reserve role for the Hawks, who lost their sixth straight. Jason Terry finished with 26 points.

"We did play a little better but we have to learn how to close out games," said Kukoc, playing in his second game with the Hawks. "It doesn't matter how you play if you're going to lose the game. But we did have our chances."

Atlanta, which has dropped 13 of 15, 19 of 23 and five straight at home, was brutal down the stretch. In their last 10 possessions, the Hawks committed three turnovers and made only two of eight shots.

"Regardless of what their record says, they came out and played aggressively," said Jamal Mashburn, who had 13 points and eight rebounds. "They made some good shots, but we came up with some big plays. We have a knack for winning in the fourth quarter."

Charlotte, which rallied from a late 12-point deficit Wednesday in a 91-88 victory over New Jersey, trailed by as many as 10 points after Nazr Mohammed hit a turnaround jumper at the outset of the fourth quarter.

Terry found some reason for encouragement.

"It was definitely a different mentality than last game," he said. "I think the chemistry is coming along. Toni is an excellent player. He played with the best, so he's going to make everyone around here better."

Game notes
The Hawks visit San Antonio on Saturday, where they have lost two straight and five of six. ... Charlotte is now 6-0 since Derrick Coleman's most recent trip to the injured list with a strained left calf Feb. 17.

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