CHARLOTTE, N.C. _ A week full of home games didn't start the way the Charlotte Hornets needed it to Sunday.
Portland Trail Blazers reserve Rodney Hood went off for 21 fourth-quarter points to beat the Hornets, 118-108. All-Star Kemba Walker had an uncharacteristically bad shooting day, finishing 5-of-21 from the field for 18 points. He did have a season-high 12 assists.
The Hornets fell to 29-34 and out of the top eight in the Eastern Conference, which are the playoff teams at the end of the season. The Blazers improved to 39-24.
Portland center Jusuf Nurkic finished with 26 points, 15 rebounds and six assists. Point guard Damian Lillard added 23 points.
Hornets sub Jeremy Lamb tallied 23 points, 20 of those in the first half. This was the first of three consecutive home games for the Hornets.
