Hornets Take Down Mavs Again
CHARLOTTE, N.C. - Not even a full 48 hours after taking down the Mavericks, the Hornets came out hungry for more. They opened the game up on a 14-3 run, essentially dominating every facet of the game. During that stretch, Charlotte shot 6/9 from the floor and held the rebounding edge, 9-1.
Gordon Hayward played a pivotal part in the strong start, notching nine points, all of which came from inside the three-point arc. On the other side, Luka Doncic, along with all of his runningmates struggled mightily to get a shot to fall. In fact, the Mavs shot a measely 16% from the field in the first, setting a new season-low by a Hornets' opponent in a quarter this season. Nine of Dallas' 16 points in the quarter came by way of the free throw line.
Doncic started out 0/6 from the field, but he finally got himself going late in the second quarter sinking four straight threes to help the Mavs chip away at what was a 19-point hole. Charlotte still led at the break, 55-48.
With several key players out of the Hornets' lineup, Charlotte had to rely on some contributions of some unlikely sources, the young bucks. JT Thor and Bryce McGowens each threw in a pair of threes and combined for 15 points in the third. Theo Maledon also chipped in four points and I'd be remiss to mention James Bouknight scoring five straight and recording a steal earlier in the game.
Dallas' offense finally gained some steam as they opened the fourth knocking down seven of their first twelve shots from the floor. Kyrie Irving drained a three to cut the lead to one and then Luka Doncic followed that up by hitting one from deep to give the Mavericks their first lead of the game, 92-90, at the 5:44 mark.
Gordon Hayward grabbed the lead right back by connecting on a 16-foot pull-up jumper, hitting the And 1, and then hitting a three the next trip up the floor. After Steve Clifford called a timeout, the Hornets scored seven unanswered to jump out to a six-point lead. Doncic hit a three to keep Dallas in it and Kleber hit another following an alley-oop to Dennis Smith Jr once again keeping it a one-score game. Mark Williams laid one in from about a foot out making it 108-104. A defensive stop and a pair of free throws from Svi Mykhailiuk put the game away.
The Hornets will hit the road for a quick one-game road trip to Oklahoma City on Tuesday. They'll tip off with the Thunder at 8 p.m. EST.
1ST: CHA 30-16
DAL: 3/18 FG | 1/10 3FG | 9/10 FT | 9 REB | 2 AST | 0 TO | 4 PIP
CHA: 11/23 FG | 3/7 3FG | 5/6 FT | 19 REB | 6 AST | 3 TO | 14 PIP
2ND: CHA 55-48
DAL: 14/41 FG | 7/23 3FG | 13/14 FT | 18 REB | 10 AST | 3 TO | 14 PIP
CHA: 20/47 FG | 5/16 3FG | 10/12 FT | 32 REB | 13 AST | 5 TO | 26 PIP
3RD: CHA 81-72
DAL: 21/60 FG | 11/34 3FG | 19/20 FT | 27 REB | 13 AST | 7 TO | 20 PIP
CHA: 29/69 FG | 9/23 3FG | 13/16 FT | 47 REB | 19 AST | 12 TO | 36 PIP
4TH: CHA wins 110-104
DAL: 32/83 FG | 19/49 3FG | 21/22 FT | 36 REB | 18 AST | 8 TO | 26 PIP
CHA: 39/88 FG | 12/29 3FG | 20/24 FT | 58 REB | 27 AST | 14 TO | 48 PIP
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