Tre Mann led the way with 27 points off the bench, Nick Richards posted a double-double with 24 points and 14 rebounds, and the Charlotte Hornets secured their first home win of the season, defeating the Toronto Raptors 138-133 on Wednesday night.
Cody Martin added a career-high 25 points, while LaMelo Ball contributed 19 as Charlotte survived blowing a 23-point first-half lead before regaining control with a crucial 12-0 run to close the third quarter.
RJ Barrett led the Raptors with 31 points, Gradey Dick notched a career-high 30, and Jakob Poeltl finished with 20 points and 16 rebounds. Toronto played without Scottie Barnes, who is sidelined for at least three weeks due to an orbital fracture.
The Hornets’ bench played a pivotal role in the win, contributing 72 points, including 69 combined from Mann, Martin, and Grant Williams, who finished with 17.
Takeaways
Raptors: Toronto struggled to find an offensive rhythm in its first game without Barnes, committing seven first-quarter turnovers that led to 10 points for Charlotte. The Raptors trailed 30-16 after the first before erupting for 43 points in the second to claw back into the game.
Hornets: Charlotte is clearly a different team when Ball is on the floor. Despite some careless turnovers, his impact is undeniable. His energy sparked a decisive 12-0 run late in the third quarter, where he scored five straight points, picked up a steal, and assisted on Mann’s 3-pointer, turning a five-point deficit into a 103-96 lead.
Key Moment
With the Hornets leading by three, Ball drove down the left side of the lane and scored to extend the lead to two possessions with 29 seconds remaining. Charlotte then sealed the game at the free-throw line.
Key Stat
The trio of Mann, Martin, and Williams shot a combined 67% (24 of 36) from the field, fueling Charlotte’s offensive explosion.
Up Next
Raptors: Host the Los Angeles Lakers on Friday night.
Hornets: Face the Boston Celtics in back-to-back home games on Friday and Saturday.
