January 20, 2025; Charlotte, North Carolina, United States; Charlotte Hornets guard Josh Inexperienced (10) passes while guarded by Dallas Mavericks center Daniel Gafford (21) during the first half at Spectrum Heart. Mandatory credit: Sam Sharpe-Imagn Photographs
LaMelo Ball and Miles Bridges each scored 23 points and the Charlotte Hornets posted their first three-game winning streak of the season, defeating the visiting Dallas Mavericks 110-105 on Monday afternoon.
Nick Smith Jr. finished with 19 points and Mark Williams scored 10 of his 13 points in the fourth quarter after missing stretches due to foul trouble for Charlotte, which made 17 3-point shots. Reserves Moussa Diabate and Cody Martin added 10 points each for the Hornets.
Kyrie Irving’s 33 points and Daniel Gafford’s season-high 31 points were the most for the Mavericks, who managed to score just five points in the final six minutes. Dallas was 6 of 32 (18.8 percent) on three-pointers.
A 10-0 run gave the Mavericks a 100-94 lead with less than six and a half minutes remaining. Smith’s triple put the Hornets ahead 105-102.
The Hornets were up 107-103 on a Williams dunk at the 2:59 mark, and then the offenses went through some tough times.
Gafford scored on an offensive rebound with 1:31 left. That was Dallas’ only field goal in the final five and a half minutes.
Ball was 1 of 2 on free throws with 13 seconds left before Klay Thompson missed a potential tying 3-pointer for the Mavericks. Charlotte’s Josh Inexperienced sealed the outcome with two free throws.
Williams grabbed 13 rebounds and Ball dished out nine assists. Seven of the Hornets’ 11 wins came in home games.
Irving scored 10 points in the third quarter and Dallas’ lead was 83-82 entering the fourth quarter.
Gafford began the day averaging 11.7 points per game, but topped 25 points for the second time this season, both in a three-game span. His performance in the lane also put Williams in foul trouble.
The score was tied at 55-55 at halftime, with Gafford having 21 points and Ball having 20. Ten of Charlotte’s 19 first-half goals were 3-pointers, and Ball scored five of them.
–Media at field level
