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CHARLOTTE -- Charlotte has one pretty good player who wears No. 1. Now it may have another.

Like his NFL counterpart Cam Newton of the Panthers, Bobcats guard Kemba Walker showed a knack for the big play Monday night in his pro debut.

Walker, the No. 9 pick in the draft, shook off a slow start to score a game-high 18 points -- including the go-ahead layup in the final minute -- to lift the Bobcats to a 79-77 win over the Hawks in the preseason opener for both teams.

After missing eight of his first 10 shots, including a dunk on a fast break and picking up three fouls in his first four minutes, Walker made a 17-footer and a pretty driving layup over two defenders in the closing 90 seconds. He used his quickness to consistently draw contact in the lane and shot 9-for-11 from the free-throw line.

Walker, who led Connecticut to the NCAA championship last season, said he likes to have the ball in his hands when the game is on the line.

"I just wanted to win," Walker said. "I don't like to lose. I know it's a preseason game, but I just want to win."

ATLANTA (77) -- M.Williams 4-8 1-1 9, Smith 5-12 1-2 11, Horford 5-7 1-2 11, Teague 4-8 0-0 8, J.Johnson 3-7 0-0 6, Sloan 1-6 1-2 3, McGrady 0-2 0-0 0, Radmanovic 1-3 0-0 3, Pachulia 2-7 4-4 8, Stackhouse 0-3 2-2 2, I.Johnson 2-6 0-0 4, Wanamaker 1-3 1-2 3, Sy 1-4 1-1 3, Benson 1-2 0-0 2, Rolle 1-1 2-2 4. Totals 31-79 14-18 77.

CHARLOTTE (79) -- Brown 4-6 2-2 10, Diaw 5-8 0-0 12, Thomas 3-14 0-0 6, Augustin 2-9 2-4 7, Henderson 3-5 2-2 8, Carroll 1-4 3-4 6, Walker 4-13 9-11 18, White 4-7 0-0 8, Diop 0-4 0-2 0, Muhammad 0-0 0-0 0, Summers 0-2 0-0 0, Griffin 0-1 2-2 2, Uzoh 1-3 0-0 2. Totals 27-76 20-27 79.

Atlanta 24 25 18 10 -- 77

Charlotte 27 16 22 14 -- 79

Three-point goals--Atlanta 1-13 (Radmanovic 1-3, Stackhouse 0-1, Pachulia 0-1, Teague 0-1, Sy 0-1, M.Williams 0-1, Sloan 0-2, J.Johnson 0-3), Charlotte 5-15 (Diaw 2-4, Carroll 1-1, Augustin 1-3, Walker 1-4, Summers 0-1, Griffin 0-1, Brown 0-1). Rebounds--Atlanta 51 (I.Johnson, Smith 7), Charlotte 57 (Brown 10). Assists--Atlanta 17 (J.Johnson 5), Charlotte 15 (Augustin 3). Total fouls--Atlanta 27, Charlotte 20. Technical--Charlotte defensive three seconds. A--9,224 (19,077).