National Basketball Association

Magic can't hold off Hornets' rally in preseason loss

Published Oct. 13, 2014 9:24 p.m. ET

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CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) -- Third-string point guard Jannero Pargo scored 16 points in the fourth quarter as the Charlotte Hornets rallied for a 99-97 preseason victory over the Orlando Magic on Monday night.

Pargo, pushed into action after starter Kemba Walker came out of the game in the third quarter with a left knee contusion, hit 6 of 10 shots, including a pair of 3-pointers, as the Hornets rallied from a five-point deficit.

Al Jefferson added 20 points, and had a key block on Elfrid Payton's layup attempt that would have tied the score. Michael Kidd-Gilchrist had 14 point, Walker 11 and Gary Neal 10 for Charlotte, which won its second straight exhibition game.

Ben Gordon scored 17 points for the Magic. Tobias Harris and Payton had 14 each while Nikola Vucevic added 10 as Orlando lost for the first time in three preseason games.