South Charlotte Today

The Charlotte Hornets secured their third consecutive victory with a 110-105 win over the Dallas Mavericks on Martin Luther King Jr. Day at Spectrum Center. The team was led by LaMelo Ball and Miles Bridges, who both scored 23 points. The win improves Charlotte's record to 11-28 overall and 7-13 at home.

LaMelo Ball had an impactful game, scoring 23 points with a shooting percentage of 38.1% from the field and 50% from three-point range. He also contributed nine assists and seven rebounds, narrowly missing a triple-double. On defense, he recorded one steal and one block while frequently defending Kyrie Irving.

Miles Bridges matched Ball's scoring with his own 23 points, shooting 53.3% from the field and making four out of seven three-point attempts. He also added five rebounds, two assists, and a block during his time on the court.

For the Mavericks, Kyrie Irving led all scorers with 33 points, while Daniel Gafford achieved a career-high of 31 points along with securing 15 rebounds.

A pivotal moment occurred in the final minutes when Nick Smith Jr.'s three-pointer gave Charlotte a crucial lead after Mark Williams' dunk attempt was blocked by Gafford. Despite opportunities for Dallas to close the gap, key plays by Williams and free throws by Josh Green ensured the Hornets' victory.

Nick Smith Jr., who has been improving since January began, scored a season-high of 19 points in this game following solid performances against Chicago and Utah.

The Hornets adapted their strategy early in the game to overcome initial shooting struggles by focusing on attacking inside rather than relying on outside shots. This adjustment helped them gain momentum despite early foul trouble for Mark Williams.

Reflecting on Martin Luther King Jr.'s legacy, Head Coach Charles Lee emphasized basketball's role in promoting peace and unity across different communities: "I think it's very special (to honor Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s legacy) ... It’s an effort to try to bring us all together."

Coach Lee also praised his players for their resilience: “It was cool to see... people had to step up to the plate, and they did a really good job of responding.”

Looking ahead, Charlotte will play Memphis next before returning home for a historic nine-game homestand starting this weekend against Portland.