The Charlotte Hornets ended their nine-game losing streak with a dramatic 105-102 victory over the Brooklyn Nets on Saturday night. Miles Bridges delivered a standout performance with 26 points, 12 rebounds, five assists, and a crucial game-saving block in the final seconds.
Charlotte trailed 102-93 with under three and a half minutes remaining before closing the game on a 12-0 run. Nick Smith Jr. contributed 19 points while shooting 6-for-17 from the field and 3-for-9 from beyond the arc.
D’Angelo Russell led Brooklyn with 28 points, seven assists, and six rebounds, but the Nets suffered their seventh consecutive defeat. Ziaire Williams added 19 points, while Cam Thomas chipped in 16.
The Hornets struggled early, scoring just 17 points in the second quarter and entering halftime down 58-43. Brooklyn extended its lead to 82-76 by the end of the third, but Charlotte dominated the final period, outscoring the Nets 29-20.
Bridges made his presence felt throughout the contest, scoring 13 points in the first half before leading the late comeback. His biggest moment came with 4.7 seconds remaining when he blocked a potential go-ahead jumper from Thomas.
Russell kept Brooklyn in the game with 15 fourth-quarter points, but the rest of the Nets combined for only five during that stretch. Meanwhile, Smith fueled the Hornets’ offense in the second half, scoring 17 of his 19 points after the break.
Despite ranking near the bottom of the league in three-point shooting, Charlotte hit 11 of 34 attempts from deep. Brooklyn struggled from long range, making just 14 of 50 three-pointers.
The Nets (21-42) face a difficult upcoming schedule, with matchups against the Lakers, Cavaliers, and Celtics. The Hornets (15-48) picked up their first win since upsetting Los Angeles on February 19.
