Nic Claxtton scored 16 points when Brooklyn Nets took control during the third quarter and got a victory 97-89 over Charlotte Hornets Monday night in New York.
Cameron Johnson and Day’ron Sharpe added 14 when Nets won for the fifth time in six games since they endured a seven-game losing line and 12 losses in 13 matches. Trendon Watford contributed 13 points, while Ziaire Williams and D’Angelo Russell chipped in 11 pieces to help Nets beating Hornets for the third time this season. Brooklyn exceeded them 51-35 during the second and third quarters.
Charlotte’s Moussa Diabate received a career high 21 points to go with 10 returns but went out after the third quarter due to a right eyes abrasion.
Lamelo Ball got five points in 10 minutes and went out during the second quarter due to the right ankle. On Sunday, he sat out of Charlotte’s loss to the Detroit pistons because of a sore left ankle.
Rookie Tidjane Salaun added 16 points from the bench, while Nick Smith Jr. Added 13. Charlotte was held under 90 points for the second time against Nets this season.
Miles Bridges was held at only seven points on 3-of-11 shooting when Hornets shot 41 percent from the field, missed 25 of 31 3-points attempts and lost for the eighth time in nine matches.
After a slow start, Nets held a lead of 34-30 through the opening quarter by making nine of its last 12 shots from the period. Williams, Watford and Keon Johnson met 3S in a span of 1:40 to give Nets a 47-36 lead with about 7 1/2 minutes left before Nets took a couple of 15-point lines on the way to a 61-49 half-time leadership.
Johnson and Claxton converted thumps on consecutive trips to drive Brooklyn’s lead to 76-59 with 5:34 left in the third quarter. A 3-point by Tosan Evbuomwan with 2:41 left Nets gave his first 20-point lead and they kept a lead of 85-65 into the fourth.
Brooklyn raised his lead to 22 early in the fourth and drew most of his starters for good a few minutes later before Charlotte made the final result respectable at the last minute.
-Field level media
