The Charlotte Hornets, who have posted a record of 14-44 through 58 games, concluded their nine-game road trip with a 103-96 loss to the undermanned Dallas Mavericks (32-28) on Thursday night, splitting the season series 1-1.
Charlotte finished their road trip with going 1-8, bringing their season road record to 5-24.
Despite lethal performances with double-doubles from Mark Williams, 26 points, 16 rebounds and Miles Bridges, 20 points, 12 boards, the Hornets failed to overcome Kyrie Irving’s clutch late-game heroics.
Embed from Getty ImagesThe future Hall of Famer continued to show why he was the No. 1 pick out of Duke in 2011, finishing with 25 points, including nine crucial points scored in the final six minutes, along with 9 rebounds and 5 dimes.
Playing without LaMelo Ball (ankle), the Hornets received solid production from rookie KJ Simpson, who contributed 11 points, 5 assists, and 2 steals in only his third start of the season.
Charlotte had the upper hand in a number of statistical categories, including rebounds (56-48), assists (25-23), and points in the paint (62-54), but 15 turnovers, once again, were the deciding factor, resulting in 20 Mavericks points.
The game was a nip and tuck affair throughout, with neither team able to create separation and maintain a significant lead. The Mavericks raced out to an early 11-point advantage, 18-7, but the Hornets clawed their way back and responded with multiple runs to keep the contest close, trailing by the slimmest of margins, 25-24, after the first quarter.
A tightly contested second quarter saw the Hornets control the paint (32-26) and entered halftime trailing 50-49.
The Hornets were able to grab the lead multiple times in the third quarter before the Mavericks closed the frame with a 14-7 run to lead by six, 73-67.
With the game up for grabs and the Hornets trailing by three, 94-91 in the fourth, a late blitz by the Mavericks, highlighted by Klay Thompson’s critical three-pointer and Moses Brown’s emphatic slam dunk in the final two minutes, punctuated the victory.
Thompson contributed 18 points, while Brown, on a 10-day contract in his second stint with Dallas, may have earned himself a permanent spot on the roster, impressed with 20 points and 11 rebounds in his first start of the season at the five.
P.J. Washington Jr. again joined Anthony Davis, Daniel Gafford and Dereck Lively II among Dallas big men unavailable due to injury. Washington left the Mavericks’ February 8 game with a sprained right ankle and has missed four of the last seven games.
The Mavericks found the touch and shot slightly better from the field (41.2% to 40.8%) in a game that featured strong defensive prowess from both teams.
“We competed at a much better level,” Hornets coach Charles Lee said after the game. “To judge a man when he gets knocked down and to see how he responds, the group definitely responded and it’s a testament to who they are as players and people. We finished the road trip off with a strong, competitive performance. I thought the process was a lot better. It feels a little bit different to walk out of here on a night like that.”
After a strenuous nine-game nearly month-long road trip, the Hornets will return home to the Spectrum Center on March 1, tipping off a five-game home stand starting with Jordan Poole and the Washington Wizards.
The Mavericks will host Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Milwaukee Bucks on Saturday.
