Charlotte Hornets guard LaMelo Ball (1) drives to the basket between Washington Wizards forwards Danilo Gallinari, left, and Deni Avdija, proper, through the first half of an NBA basketball sport Friday, Nov. 10, 2023, in Washington. (AP Picture/Mark Schiefelbein)
WASHINGTON — Gordon Hayward scored 27 factors, LaMelo Ball added 25 and the Charlotte Hornets shook off their 3-point taking pictures struggles simply in time to earn a 124-117 victory over the Washington Wizards on Friday evening.
Mark Williams added 21 factors and career-high 24 rebounds for the Hornets, who made a profitable debut within the NBA In-Season Match with a highway victory in East Group B.
Williams’ complete included 15 offensive rebounds, a franchise file.
“These additional probabilities, these additional possessions turned out to be essential,” Williams mentioned.
LaMelo Ball for 3⃣ to take the lead!
Ball has 25 PTS 🔥
Wizards-Hornets are taking place to the wire!
🏆 NBA In-Season Match
🏀 East Group B motion on NBA App
📲: https://t.co/L1oQrhFCRS pic.twitter.com/XII9wVvhIc— NBA (@NBA) November 11, 2023
Charlotte entered Friday because the Japanese Convention’s worst crew from past the arc and made a season-low six 3s on 28 makes an attempt.
However between Ball and Hayward, the Hornets sank 4 of their final 5 from deep to separate a home-and-home set after Washington’s win on Wednesday.
Williams led Charlotte to a dominating 67-36 edge on the glass — a plus-31 margin that marked one other franchise finest — to assist the sport keep shut till the taking pictures lastly got here round.
When it did, the Hornets outscored the Wizards 36-20 within the fourth quarter.
“We’re going to have to determine the 3-point taking pictures,” mentioned Hornets coach Steve Clifford. “’Trigger tonight, we obtained ones that we’ll make ultimately, and we did make them late. However as a lot as something, it’s simply nice fourth-quarter play.”
Kyle Kuzma scored 17 factors for Washington, failing to achieve 20 for the primary time this season. Tyus Jones added 16 because the Wizards fell to 0-2 in Group B play.
“Clearly, it was a really winnable sport,” mentioned Wizards coach Wes Unseld Jr. “Deal with one space and I believe it simply adjustments the sport fully.”
After beginning the sport down 15-3 and trailing by as many as 16 within the second quarter, Charlotte responded to take two transient third-quarter leads earlier than edging in entrance once more when Ball’s fourth 3 from the left wing made it 110-109 with 4:24 left within the sport.
Ball fed Hayward for one more 3 earlier than Hayward transformed a three-point play following a leaner in visitors to stretch it to 116-111.
The Hornets missed their remaining 3, however Williams was there for a follow-up dunk to place an exclamation level on Charlotte’s late surge.
“We began making some pictures — Melo made some huge ones down the stretch,” Williams mentioned. “After which we obtained some stops. Twenty factors we gave up within the fourth? That’s huge time.”
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Hornets: Go to New York on Sunday.
Wizards: Go to Brooklyn on Sunday.
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