Gordon Hayward scored a team-high 24 points, Miles Bridges contributed 22 of his own and the hot-shooting Charlotte Hornets survived Scottie Barnes’ triple-double to beat the Toronto Raptors 119-116 on Friday night.
Terry Rozier had a double-double with 21 points and 13 dimes and rookie Brandon Miller scored 20 for the Hornets, who shot a blazing 55.7% from the field, 52% from 3-point range and made 18 of 20 from the charity strike.
Barnes had 31 points, 10 assists and 10 rebounds for the Raptors, but missed a shot at the buzzer that appeared as though it would have sent the game into overtime had it gone down. After the game, it was determined that Barnes’ foot was on the line, making it a 2-point attempt.
Barnes’ triple-double was the third of his career and second so far this season.
Pascal Siakam added 25 points for the Raptors, who trailed by 13 to begin the final frame and scratched and clawed their way back to take a five-point lead, only to see it evaporate down the stretch.
“It was just about not panicking,” Bridges said of battling back after surrendering the lead. “We know they went on a run, and they came back, but at that moment right there we just had to change the way we were playing and be more physical.”
Despite playing without their leading scorer and best player LaMelo Ball, who is out with an ankle injury, the Hornets tied a franchise record with four players finishing with at least 20 points, the first time that has taken place since February 13.
Embed from Getty Images“That is what we need to do, especially with Melo out,” Bridges said. “We’re capable of that every night and we have to continue to hold each other accountable and come out and be aggressive every game.”
Both teams came into the game having dropped four of their previous five.
The Hornets led by 20 in the first half and took a 90-77 lead into the fourth quarter. But the Raptors opened the period with an 11-2 surge, fueled by their bench.
Toronto vaulted into the lead with seven minutes to go when Precious Achiuwa knocked down a 3 and stretched their advantage to five when Barnes hit a runner in the lane, drawing a smattering of boos from the crowd.
But the Hornets stormed back behind a barrage of 3s from Bridges, Rozier and Miller to give them the lead by the slimmest of margins with 4:23 left, prompting Raptors coach Darko Rajakovic to put his starters back in.
Rozier buried a contested step-back jumper from the left wing to put the Hornets up by three with 22.2 seconds left before having a complete lapse of judgement, fouling Barnes on a 3-point attempt. Barnes missed the first free throw before making the final two.
Rozier swished two free throws with 7.3 seconds left to put Charlotte up by three.
“They made some tough shots down the stretch,” Barnes said of the Hornets.
Barnes said the Raptors need to start faster.
“We have to come and play with some urgency from the beginning and lock in mentally,” Barnes said. “Create stops and let that lead us to transition on the offensive end.”
The Hornets came into the game having made 43.9% of their 3-pointers in the previous three games and stayed hot in the first half, making 8 of 13 from downtown to build a 66-54 halftime lead.
“I think the last five or six games our shot profile has gotten a lot better,” Hornets coach Steve Clifford said. “Early in the year, we were scoring a ton in the paint, but we weren’t making many 3s nor were we shooting that many. Now we’re getting a better balance.”
Charlotte finished 13 of 25 from distance.
Toronto’s Otto Porter Jr. left the game in the first half with a left foot contusion.
Raptors: Travel to Madison Square Garden to face Jaylen Brunson and the New York Knicks on Monday night.
Hornets: Host Jimmy Butler and the Miami Heat on Monday night.
