Don't look now, but the Charlotte Hornets are on a three-game winning streak, with the Dallas Mavericks being their latest victims. They took the 110-105 victory in the afternoon matchup thanks to a balanced game from their players.
LaMelo Ball overcame his slump and led the way for the Hornets, logging 20 points and five 3-pointers in the first half. He eventually finished with 23 points while dishing out seven rebounds and nine assists.
The Luka Doncic-less Mavs had the opportunity to send the match into overtime, but Kyrie Irving whiffed a pass with 26 seconds left and his squad down two. Ball split his free throws in the ensuing possession to give Dallas another chance at extending the contest. Coach Jason Kidd opted not to call a timeout, though, resulting in Klay Thompson missing a potential game-tying 3-pointer.
Josh Green redeemed himself after putting up a dud in his revenge game by securing the rebound and sinking both his attempts from the chariry stripe.
LaMelo Ball's supporting cast showed up again
The win has Charlotte just five games behind the No. 10 seed in the Eastern Conference. Of course, booking a trip to the play-in tournament still seems like a distant dream for the team. However, what's important is that it has found ways to win even with Brandon Miller out and without having to rely too much on Ball, which has been a persistent problem for the Hornets this season.
It looks like Miles Bridges has finally turned things around, as he scored 23 on efficient shooting. In addition, Nick Smith Jr. has once again proven worthy of being called upon to replace Miller in the starting lineup. After recording 15 markers in his first career start in Charlotte's previous matchup, he put up a season-high 19 points on Monday.
Other Hornets players provided significant contributions. Mark Williams conquered a bout with foul trouble, finishing with a double-double of 13 points and 13 rebounds.
The bench, once a major weakness, also stepped up, with Moussa Diabate scoring 10 and holding down the fort in Charlotte's Williams-less minutes. Cody Martin looked inspired amid rumors that the organization could be sending him to a new home. He registered 10 points, seven rebounds, and seven assists. Josh Okogie didn't have a stellar debut, but his potential to be a disruptive force on defense was already apparent.
It remains to be seen if the Hornets can keep up their fine play, which helped them win four of their last five games. Hopefully, Ball's supporting cast won't suddenly disappear, as the early goings of the 2024-25 campaign had exhibited that the 2022 All-Star doing it alone is a recipe for disaster.