(Charlotte) Gordon Hayward scored 24 points, Miles Bridges added 22 and the Charlotte Hornets defeated the Toronto Raptors 119-116 on Friday night.
In defeat, Scottie Barnes had a triple double. He scored 31 points, 10 assists and 10 rebounds. Barnes, however, missed a three-point basket at the end of regulation, which would have sent the two teams into overtime at 119-119. It was the third triple double of Barnes’ career and second this season.
Terry Rozier had 21 points and 13 assists and rookie Brandon Miller scored 20 points for the Hornets.
The Hornets made 18 of 20 free throws, in addition to making more than half of their three-pointers (52%).
Pascal Siakam scored 25 points for the Raptors, who were trailing by 13 early in the fourth quarter before taking a five-point lead.
“You just couldn’t panic,” Bridges said after his team came back from blowing its lead.
The Hornets were playing without their leading scorer, LaMelo Ball, who is out with an ankle injury. Still, the team tied a team record Friday with four players finishing the game with at least 20 points for the first time since Feb. 13.
“That’s what we have to do, especially without Melo in the lineup,” Bridges added. We are capable of it every night and must continue to support each other, and be aggressive in every game. »
Both teams entered the duel having lost four of their last five outings.
The Hornets led by 20 points in the first half and took a 90-77 lead into the fourth quarter.
The Raptors took the lead with seven minutes left when Precious Achiuwa made a three-pointer.
The Hornets, however, benefited from two three-point baskets from Bridges, as well as one from Rozier and Miller. The Hornets led by one point at that point, with 4:23 left in regulation.
Following two free throws by Rozier with 7.3 seconds left in the game, Barnes went for a three-pointer as time expired, but the ball hit the ring and bounced to the outside the field.
“They made some tough shots during the game,” Barnes said of the Hornets.
