NBA: Terry Rozier guides Hornets to rare home win
Terry Rozier #3 and Miles Bridges #0 of the Charlotte Hornets react in the second quarter of the game against the Toronto Raptors at Spectrum Center on February 25, 2022 in Charlotte, North Carolina. Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images/AFP
Terry Rozier’s 31 points lifted Charlotte to a rare home win Saturday as the Hornets posted a 123-117 victory against the San Antonio Spurs.
LaMelo Ball racked up 24 points, P.J. Washington and Montrezl Harrell each had 15 points, Cody Martin and Kelly Oubre Jr. notched 12 points apiece and Miles Bridges finished with 10 points.
The Hornets won for just the second time in their last 10 home games in Saturday’s opener of a three-game homestand that might prove vital to Charlotte getting back on track.
The Spurs have lost four consecutive games, keeping coach Gregg Popovich from matching Don Nelson’s NBA record of 1,335 regular-season victories.
.@T_Rozzay3 was in his 💼 tonight 👌🔥#AllFly pic.twitter.com/dHMhKrSZvg
— Charlotte Hornets (@hornets) March 6, 2022
Keldon Johnson’s 33 points and Dejounte Murray’s 25 points, 10 assists and nine rebounds were key to keeping the Spurs within range. Devin Vassell added 14 points, Jakob Poeltl had 11 points and Joshua Primo notched 10 points for San Antonio.
Charlotte was 14-for-14 on fourth-quarter free throws and it needed that production to keep the lead. Cody Martin made the last four to secure the victory.
Rozier shot 10 for 18 from the field, including 6 for 8 on 3-pointers. Five different Charlotte players made a 3-point basket as the team shot 16 for 42 from long range.
Meanwhile, San Antonio shot 11 for 37 on 3-pointers.
The Spurs went up 97-91 late in the third quarter before the Hornets scored the next eight points, all in the final 56 seconds of the quarter.
When Rozier drained a 3 with less than 5 1/2 minutes remaining in the fourth, Charlotte’s lead jumped to 113-107.
This game was remarkably tight throughout. The Hornets outscored San Antonio 31-30 in both the first and second quarters. Each team scored 37 points in the third quarter.
The top rebounder for each team failed to score in double figures. Mason Plumlee had 13 rebounds and four points for the Hornets, while Zach Collins pulled in 10 boards to go with five points for the Spurs.
