Charlotte, NC, March 22 (BUS): Lamelo Paul and Terry Roser each scored 17 points and the Charlotte Hornets beat the New Orleans Pelicans 106-103 on Monday night for their fifth straight win.
Miles Bridges added 15 points while Mason Plumley scored 11 points and 10 rebounds for Charlotte, who trailed for most of the second half and overcame 17 points.
“We had a bad February and we were dropping out of the playoffs, so we just wanted to show the NBA that we’re here,” Bridges said. “We will continue to play like this and put the NBA notice in place.”
CJ McCollum scored 27 points for New Orleans and Jonas Valanciunas was the dominant painter most of the night, ending the game with 24 points and 18 rebounds. The Pelicans had cut their winning streak in two games.
“Flexibility and toughness – we never gave up and we found a way,” said Hornets coach James Borrego.
After the Hornets put the ball three with a float in the fairway 8.9 seconds left, the Pelicans tried to give McCollum an opportunity to tie it in with the last possession.
But the Hornets swept through the Pelican guard after receiving a side pass and was unable to get a shot. The ball was hit far and Devonte Graham grabbed it and tried to raise a desperation that would not have counted had it fallen.
“We know that if he had 1-on-1, he would hit,” Bridges said of McCollum. “We wanted anyone else next to him to shoot that ball.”
McCollum said after the match that he probably should have used a fake pump to help free himself.
“The spacing hasn’t been great and I have to make a decision faster,” he said.
The Pelicans led 84-76 in the fourth quarter, but the Hornets rallied to take the lead when Bridges dropped a three-pointer from the corner before 2:12 left and found PJ Washington Plumley cutting the fairway for a big dunk shortly after.
The Hornets outnumbered the Pelicans 21-10 in the final nine minutes.
“The execution is very important,” said Pelicans coach Willie Green. “It’s something we’ve been talking about and we screwed up a little bit about it. He was there to take it. Give credit to Charlotte, they gave their manipulations over the course of winning the match in the end for them.”
Charlotte continues to share the ball lately, averaging 34 assists during her five-game winning streak while posting at least 30 assists per game.
switch hands
The 7-foot-tall Plumley said he decided to switch to left-handed throwing after injuring a finger on his right hand last week.
“It’s not like I have anything to lose based on how I shoot,” said Plumley, who earns only 37.2% from the spoiled streak. “It didn’t feel uncomfortable. It’s a good ball so I’m going to stick with it.”
Plumlee was 3 of 4 of the streak against the Pelicans.
Hint
Pelicans: Herbert Jones was sent off in the third quarter for foul 2 when he hit Bridges in the head. Jones finished with five points. …brandon Ingram didn’t play because of right hamstring soreness. …Nagy Marshall scored 14 points and five rebounds in 25 minutes.
Hornets: He had nine dead ends. … Carolina Panthers owner David Tepper and his wife Nicole sat on the court.
next one
Pelicans: Host the Chicago Bulls Thursday night.
Hornets: Host the New York Knicks on Wednesday night.