The Charlotte Hornets ended their 16-game losing streak against the Philadelphia 76ers with a 109-98 victory on Wednesday. The Hornets had not beaten the 76ers since November 2, 2016 and held the longest active losing streak to one team in the NBA.
“We talked about it before the game. We talked about ending the streak,” Gordon Hayward said. “It was a big win for us. But it was just one.”
The teams exchanged baskets, predictably with Joel Embiid doing most of the damage for the 76ers, while Hayward matched him bucket for bucket. The Hornets were able to get Embiid in early foul trouble, drawing two offensive fouls. Hayward had 15 points in the opening quarter, but the Hornets still trailed by one, thanks in part to six threes by Philadelphia. At the end of the first quarter, the Sixers led 35-34.
Both teams started the second quarter cold from the field. The Hornets shot mostly from the perimeter in that stretch and despite crashing the boards for offensive rebounds, they failed to score. Terry Rozier finally broke the seal for Charlotte with a layup and a foul.
Sixers small forward Danny Green existed the game early in the quarter with a leg injury after Miles Bridges rejected a layup attempt. He had his hip examined and was able to return to the game.
The Hornets struggled on the offensive end, but were able to take advantage of the Sixers missed shots and turnovers. That stingy defense and fast pace of play helped them go on an 18-4 extended run, giving them a 14 point lead at the half, 64-50. Hayward finished the half with 22 points on 9-of-9 from the field.
The Hornets went on a mini 6-0 run to start the third quarter, building their lead to 20 points, but Hayward could not continue his perfect night from the field. Charlotte went into a slump after that, only converting one field goal in five minutes of action.
The 76ers took full advantage of the quarter’s ice age and cut the lead to a two possession game. Embiid started demanding the ball and got to the charity strike. The Hornets responded with an 8-0 run of their own to push their lead back up to 16. The Sixers went on a 6-0 run, out of a Doc Rivers timeout, to trim the lead back to nine. The Hornets led 85-76 going into the fourth.
The teams traded baskets in the early going of the fourth quarter. The 76ers even went to their twin towers lineup with Embiid and Andre Drummond. The teams played to a standstill, with the Hornets using a small lineup, with PJ Washington at the center position.
Hornets coach James Borrego called a timeout with just over five minutes left in the game. Rozier and Bridges made a pair of three-pointers to extend the lead. Bridges shot from downtown was the first of three consecutive shots for him. Even though Embiid answered each basket, it took precious time off the clock. The 76ers ran out of time and the Hornets cruised to an 11-point win, 109-98.
“We battled with these guys for a number of years and it feels like every shot at the end of the game has gone their direction,” Hornets coach James Borrego said.
Hayward had a team high 30 points, with four rebounds, seven assists and three steals for the Hornets. Rozier had 22 points, four rebounds and four assists. Bridges contributed 21 points, eight boards and two dimes.
Embiid had 31 points for the fifth straight game for the Sixers. He also had six rebounds and three assists. Embiid’s recent stretch is one of the best in franchise history, joining Allen Iverson and Wilt Chamberlain, who scored 30-plus points in eight straight contests. Tobias Harris scored 17 points with eight rebounds and five assists. Furkan Korkmaz added 14 points and one assist off the bench.
The 76ers host Jayson Tatum and the Boston Celtics on Friday. The Hornets host Wendell Carter Jr. and the Orlando Magic Friday.
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