Kemba Walker’s shining moment gives way to Miami’s series-tying win

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CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Almost half an hour after the final buzzer sounded, wiping away what would have been the shining moment of his pro career, Kemba Walker sat slouched in his chair, still fully dressed in his white No. 15 Charlotte Hornets uniform, and stared blankly into his locker.

With the muffled sounds of Al Jefferson talking up his point guard’s big night emanating through a thicket of reporters, Walker stripped down to his black base layer and directed his solemn gaze down to the floor. Jeremy Lamb, who had been by the swaggering point guard’s side as he willed their UConn Huskies to 11 straight tournament wins, handed him a towel, and Walker eventually retreated slowly to the shower.

Three days earlier, Walker’s 34 points, including 16 in the fourth quarter, in the same building evened their first-round series with the Miami Heat. Maybe, it seemed, he could dominate on a postseason stage in the NBA too.

This time, he may have been even better. Walker scored 14 of the Hornets’ 20 points in the fourth quarter, including a reverse layup to narrow their deficit to two with 1 minute, 40 seconds to play. He would finish with 37 points, the second-most in Charlotte postseason history.

Kemba Walker’s 37 points weren’t enough for the Hornets to finish off the Heat. Sam Sharpe/USA TODAY Sports

But the dagger in Game 6 belonged to Dwyane Wade, who hit a 3-pointer and an 18-footer in the final minute to clinch a 97-90 Heat victory that ties the …

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