Walker scores 23 as Bobcats beat Warriors 112-100

Charlotte Bobcats' Kemba Walker (1) drives between Golden State Warriors' Brandon Rush (4) and David Lee (10) during the first half of an NBA basketball game in Charlotte, N.C., Saturday, Jan. 14, 2012. (AP Photo/Chuck Burton)

By Steve Reed

AP Sports Writer / January 14, 2012

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CHARLOTTE, N.C.—Rookie Kemba Walker made the most of his first NBA start, scoring a career-high 23 points to lift the Charlotte Bobcats to a 112-100 victory over the Golden State Warriors on Saturday night.

With the Bobcats mired in a six-game losing streak, coach Paul Silas benched veteran Boris Diaw, saying he wanted to see a different look with a smaller lineup. Diaw, who had started a franchise-record 235 straight games, had scored just three points in the last two games and had drawn criticism from Silas.

David Lee had 21 points and 10 rebounds in the first half and finished with 24 points and 16 rebounds. Dorell Wright and Nate Robinson each added 12 points for the Warriors, who fell to 3-8.