JEREMY LIN and Kemba Walker scored 26 points each, and the Charlotte Hornets defeated the New York Knicks 97-84 Saturday night for their third win in the last four games.

    Lin and Walker were a combined 19 of 19 from the free-throw line. Charlotte only shot 34 percent from the field, but made 32 of 37 free throws as a team.

    P.J. Hairston chipped in with a season-high 20 points and 10 rebounds for the Hornets, who beat the Knicks for the fifth straight time at home despite being without five players, including three starters.

    Derrick Williams led the Knicks with 19 points and 14 rebounds, and Kristaps Porzingis had 13 points.

    Robin Lopez only played three minutes in the second half for the Knicks and finished with 10 points and eight rebounds. Carmelo Anthony played 29 minutes, but had just nine points on 4-of-11 shooting.

    Charlotte outscored New York 32-13 in the third quarter to open a 21-point lead behind 11 points from Lin and seven from Hairston, who had two nifty drives to the hole including a three-point play.

    The Knicks pulled within 10 with 5:22 left in the game on a corner 3 from Aaron Afflalo.

    But Hairston scored on a breakaway layup and drew a foul, then knocked down a long 3-pointer to push the lead back to 13 with three minutes remaining. (SD-Agencies)