Lauri Markkanen scored 24 points (15 on 5 3-pointers), and the Chicago Bulls beat the Charlotte Hornets 120-114.
Sean Kilpatrick’s 2 free throws put the Bulls ahead for good with 8:11 left in the fourth quarter.
The Hornets got within 115-114 on Dwight Howard’s 2 free throws with 2:00 to play, but Kilpatrick answered with a 3-pointer, and the Hornets got no closer.
During clutch time, the Bulls outscored the Hornets 15-12. Kilpatrick scored 9 of the Bulls’ 15 on 3 for 6 shooting and 1 for 2 at the line.
Kilpatrick scored a season-high 21 points off the bench. Kilpatrick scored 19 of his 21 points in the fourth quarter.
For the Hornets, Howard had 23 points and 17 rebounds, and Malik Monk added 21 points (16 in the fourth quarter) with 5 3-pointers off the bench. Marvin Williams had 18 points and 8 rebounds on 6 for 8 shooting.
The Hornets turned it over 20 times, about 7 more than usual for this many possessions. They did not make a field goal in the last 3:04.