Cameron Johnson put on a show in front of a packed house at the Barclays Center. He racked up a season-high 34 points with an outstanding shooting effort from beyond the arc as the Brooklyn Nets came away with a win in a back-and-forth game against the visiting Charlotte Hornets, winning by the slimmest of margins, 116-115, on Tuesday night in New York.
The North Carolina product swished six 3-pointers on 12 attempts as part of an 11-for-20 shooting night from the field. Jalen Wilson also got in on the fun, burying five triples to finish with 17 points.
With the game still hanging in the balance and the Hornets only down by three, they got possession of the rock with 5.1 seconds to play after Cody Martin rejected Trendon Watford’s shot. The Hornets second-year small forward, Brandon Miller missed a 3-pointer, which was tipped in by Grant Williams.
Including Johnson, five Nets players scored in double figures. Dorian Finney-Smith added 15 points, Dennis Schroder posted 14 points and Ben Simmons and Watford each contributed 10.
Miller pumped in 29 points and Miles Bridges had 21 points, but the Hornets lost for the fourth time in their last five games. Charlotte could not overcome a rare off night from guard LaMelo Ball, who was riding the bench for most of the fourth quarter. He was held to only 12 points on 3-for-13 shooting from the floor with four turnovers.
Ball has taken and made tough and contested shots all season. His one-legged floaters and deep threes are usually highlights for Hornets fans. On Tuesday, those shots were not falling, and he finished shooting 23.1% from the field on 13 shots. It was a tough night for his offense, and he was absent during crunch time to end the game.
Tre Mann added 19 points off the bench, Williams had 16 points and Tidjane Salaun had 11.
Charlotte was feeling it from distance making 20 shots from 3-point range but went only 18-for-45 inside the arc.
Embed from Getty ImagesJohnson’s outside shot vaulted the Nets into the lead by one, 107-106, with 4 1/2 minutes to play. They led the rest of the way, with Watford’s two clutch free throws at the 1:48 mark making a huge difference, with technical fouls assessed to Hornets first-year coach Charles Lee and Watford.
Watford added a conventional three-point play with 1:10 remaining on the clock and also scored Brooklyn’s ensuing basket for a five-point lead, 116-111, with 38 seconds left in the fourth.
The Hornets failed to hold on to a 17-point lead, which they held in the final minute of the opening quarter, and found themselves trailing by double digits before putting the pedal to the metal and rallying.
The Hornets went from an 11-point deficit with less than 6 1/2 minutes to play in the third quarter to carrying a two-point lead, 87-85, into the final frame. Salaun made five free throws during that burst.
The Hornets host Cade Cunningham and the Detroit Pistons on Thursday.
The Nets start a four-game road trip at Philadelphia against Joel Embiid and the 76ers on Friday.
