After two consecutive losses on Saturday and Monday, the Charlotte Hornets were back to winning ways on Friday as they were able to secure a 116-100 victory against the Washington Wizards.

Following the win, Hornets head coach James Borrego shared how pleased he was with the victory, stating that their hard work over the past few days had paid off.

“We worked on a few things and I think you saw it carry over to tonight,” Borrego said, via ESPN. “I think it was more of a refresher for our bodies, our minds. Got our spirits right and I thought we came out and competed tonight.”

It was a light, two-game week for the Hornets, and as coach Borrego explained, the three-day break proved to be a crucial juncture for a Charlotte side that is making a late push for a spot in the playoffs.

Kemba Walker was his ever-reliable self in this one, scoring a team-high 28 points (on 11-of-30 shooting), along with three three-pointers, five rebounds, four assists, three steals, a block, and three turnovers in 36 minutes of play.

Veteran wing Nicolas Batum posted an all-around gem, notching 16 points (on 6-of-10 from the floor), four three-pointers, five rebounds, six assists, a steal, and a block. Jeremy Lamb (18 points, eight rebounds) and the ageless Tony Parker (16 points, three assists) also came up big off the Hornets bench.

The eighth-seeded Miami Heat took a loss on Friday against the league-leading Milwaukee Bucks, which allowed the Hornets to close the gap to just one win as the race for the final playoff spot in the East heats up.