Hornets' Thornton makes his case with big night

Hornets rookie Marcus Thornton is averaging 11.3 ppg this season
Entering the Hornets' game Tuesday night against the Cavs, Marcus Thornton's career-high for scoring was 25 points.

He nearly matched that with one incredible quarter.
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Thornton came off the bench to score 23 points -- a franchise record in one quarter -- in the Hornets' 40-point second quarter. The second-round pick out of LSU was 10-for-13 from the field and hit his first five shots to help the Hornets turn an eight-point deficit into a three-point lead at the half.

"[Thornton] was aggressive coming off screens and was confident when he went up to shoot the ball," Hornets coach Jeff Bower said.

"He did a nice job balancing his perimeter shot with putting it on the floor to get to the rim."

Thornton finished the game with 37 points -- second only among rookies this season to Brandon Jennings' 55-point performance -- on 15-for-22 shooting (3-for-7 on 3s). Fellow rookie Darren Collison, not to be outdone, finished with 22 points and 10 assists for his fifth double-double of the season.

"When you play against one of the great players, you know you had better bring your 'A' game," Thornton said. "That's what we tried to do tonight."

Unfortunately, that "great player" Thornton mentioned -- LeBron James -- got the last laugh as the Cavs pulled out the 105-95 win, snapping their own three-game losing streak.