CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Forward Cody Zeller hit a layup off an inbounds pass with 0.4 seconds remaining, and the Charlotte Hornets then held on in a bizarre finish for a 95-93 victory over the New York Knicks on Wednesday night.
New York rookie forward Kristaps Porzingis hit a 3-pointer at the buzzer that initially was ruled good, but the basket was disallowed after officials determined that the clock already expired.
Zeller’s layup came after the Hornets inbounded under the New York basket with 2.2 seconds left. Center Spencer Hawks found Zeller going back door and delivered a perfect pass.
Zeller missed two free throws with 28.5 seconds remaining that could have given the Hornets the lead, and then New York forward Carmelo Anthony badly missed a rushed 20-footer with 3.7 seconds remaining.
The win moved the Hornets (4-4) to the .500 mark for the first time this year. They have won four of their past five after an 0-3 start.
The Knicks (4-5) were looking for a third consecutive win.
Magic 101, Lakers 99
ORLANDO, Fla. — Nikola Vucevic hit a shot at the buzzer to lift Orlando to a victory over slumping Los Angeles.
Vucevic, who entered the game as a reserve after missing the previous three games with a knee injury, finished with 18 points and five rebounds. Reserve Shabazz Napier scored a career-high 22 points to lead all scorers.
The Lakers were without veteran Kobe Bryant for the second consecutive game because of a sore back.
Raptors 119, 76ers 103
PHILADELPHIA — Kyle Lowry scored 23 points and Luis Scola added 17 of his season-high 21 in the pivotal third quarter as Toronto beat short-handed Philadelphia.
Cory Joseph notched 15 points, DeMar DeRozan had 14 and Jonas Valanciunas contributed 11 points and 12 rebounds for the Raptors, who snapped a three-game losing streak.
Toronto had a season-high point total. The Raptors’ 48.3-percent shooting was also their best of the season.