Associated Press

NEW ORLEANS — Kemba Walker wasn’t about to succumb to the notion that he might be having an off night and start passing up shots — not with the Hornets trailing in the fourth quarter and trying to stay in the race for a playoff spot.

Walker scored 21 of his 32 points in the final 10 minutes, and Charlotte kept alive slim postseason hopes with a 115-109 victory over the New Orleans Pelicans on Wednesday night.

“I think it just comes naturally; In those kinds of situations, I think my team is kind of looking for me to be more aggressive and make some plays,” said Walker, who made just two of eight shots through the first three quarters.

The Hornets, who came in on a three-game skid, trailed by five in the middle of the fourth quarter when Walker’s 3 ignited a 14-6 run that put Charlotte in front for good.

“That shot in particular, I had a little space and just rose up and took a shot,” Walker recalled. “That was the shot that kind of got me going. I was struggling all night.”

Walker — who also poured in 38 second-half points two nights earlier in a loss at Utah — quickly added a pair of driving layups and a second 3 during the decisive spurt in New Orleans.

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