CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- Kemba Walker had 26 points, Jeremy Lamb added 18 and the Charlotte Hornets bounced back from a tough loss to beat the Sacramento Kings 112-107 on Monday night.

Nic Batum and Marvin Williams each had 14 points and Dwight Howard added 14 points and 16 rebounds for the Hornets, who have won six of their last nine.

The Hornets were coming off an emotionally crushing 106-105 loss to the Miami Heat on Saturday night in which they surrendered a five-point lead in the final 34 seconds and lost on a last-second free throw.

However, they came out with a purpose against the Kings, closing the first half with an 11-2 run to build a 12-point lead at the break. They extended the lead to 20 in the second half before allowing the lead to dwindle to three with 1:25 remaining after a 3-pointer by Bogdan Bogdanovic.

But there would be no collapse on this night.

Howard hit two clutch free throws and Willie Cauley Stein was called for goaltending on a put back by Howard. Walker added two more free throws after two Kings misses to push the Charlotte lead to nine with 23 seconds left.

Skai Labissiere had 23 points and Buddy Hield added 18 for the Kings, who have lost eight straight games and 11 of their last 12.

The Kings trailed by 20 in the third quarter, but battled back late behind Hield's shooting. He had 10 points in the fourth quarter.

TIP INS

Kings: The starting backcourt consisted of Vince Carter and De'Aaron Fox. Fox was 11 months old when Carter played in his first NBA game. ... Rookie Justin Jackson, who played at North Carolina, got a nice hand from Tar Heels fans when he checked into the game late in the first quarter. 

Hornets: Michael Kidd-Gilchrist did not play because of an abscess in his first arm, which meant Treveon Graham got the start this season. ... Howard picked up his ninth technical of the season, meaning he's seven from being suspended for a game.

UP NEXT:

Kings: Visit the Magic on Tuesday.

Hornets: Host the Pelicans on Wednesday.

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