The Charlotte Hornets extended their winning streak to a season-high three games by defeating the Dallas Mavericks 110-105 on Monday night. LaMelo Ball and Miles Bridges led the way for Charlotte, each scoring 23 points in a thrilling victory.

Nick Smith Jr. contributed 19 points, including a pivotal three-pointer that gave the Hornets the lead for good with 4:16 remaining. Mark Williams added a double-double with 13 points and 13 rebounds, overcoming foul trouble to anchor the paint.

Kyrie Irving shined for Dallas with 33 points, including 26 in the second half, but his efforts were not enough to prevent the Mavericks from dropping their fourth game in five outings. Daniel Gafford delivered a career-high 31 points and 15 rebounds for Dallas, who continue to struggle in Luka Doncic’s absence due to a calf strain.

The Hornets started strong, with Ball hitting five three-pointers in the first half to give Charlotte a slight edge. However, the Mavericks surged in the fourth quarter behind Irving’s hot hand, including two quick three-pointers and a three-point play off a foul by Josh Green.

Charlotte regained control late in the game when Smith drained a corner three, and Ball’s steady play helped the Hornets hold off Dallas in the closing seconds. Despite missing a free throw with 13 seconds left, the Hornets capitalized on a missed three-pointer by Klay Thompson and iced the game with two free throws from Josh Green.

The Mavericks struggled with turnovers, committing 14, which led to 23 points for the Hornets. Dallas also failed to capitalize on their opportunities from beyond the arc, shooting just 18.8% on 6-of-32 attempts.

Charlotte’s bench made a significant impact, led by Cody Martin’s 10 points, seven assists, and seven rebounds. Moussa Diabate also stepped up with 10 points in limited minutes, helping the Hornets stay competitive while Williams was sidelined with foul trouble.

Dallas, adjusting to life without Doncic, relied heavily on their starters, with Gafford and Irving carrying the scoring load. However, the Mavericks’ bench added only 14 points, further exposing their depth issues.

The Hornets improved to 11-28 with the win, showing resilience and balanced scoring. Dallas fell to 23-20 and will need to find answers quickly as they battle to maintain their position in the Western Conference playoff race.

Charlotte’s defense proved crucial, holding the Mavericks to 43.2% shooting while dominating the turnover battle.