Rozier has 37 points and 13 assists, Hornets win 129-128 to snap Nets' three-game winning streak
NEW YORK (AP) Terry Rozier had 37 points and 13 assists, and the short-handed Charlotte Hornets beat the Brooklyn Nets 129-128 on Thursday night.
Miles Bridges added 23 points, Gordon Hayward chipped in 22 and Mark Williams had 12 points and 12 rebounds. The Hornets snapped their two-game losing streak despite playing without star guard LaMelo Ball and No. 2 pick Brandon Miller.
“My trust is in all my teammates just like they trust in me,” Rozier said. “I think everybody stepped up tremendously. Everybody chipped in and did a great job.”
Cam Thomas scored 26 points in his return from a sprained ankle and Mikal Bridges had 22 points and nine rebounds as Brooklyn’s three-game winning streak was snapped.
“We did not have the standard that we have, especially in that first half,” Nets coach Jacque Vaughn said. “That set the tone. You give a team confidence, and they’re playing free and able to make shots.”
The teams combined to make 98 of 196 field goals, but the Hornets shot 58.3% from 3-point range, led by Rozier (7 for 9) and Bryce McGowens (4 for 5), who set a career high for 3-pointers.
“Bryce is putting a lot of work in, and it’s showing,” Rozier said. “We’re all happy for him, and hopefully he can keep it going.”
Charlotte outscored Brooklyn 27-22 in the fourth quarter and made six of its final eight field goals. The Hornets also limited the Nets to 9-for-27 shooting (33.3%) in the final period.
“I think our fourth-quarter defense was critical,” Hornets coach Steve Clifford said. “It’s a great win. The most important thing is we fought hard and made plays at the end of the game.”
The Nets had the chance to win it after Rozier missed a mid-range jumper with eight seconds left, but Cam Johnson missed a 3-pointer that would have won it with 2.1 seconds left.
“We got a great look at the end,” Thomas said. ”(Johnson's) miss was a great look, a wide-open 3. We’ll live with that all day.”
The Nets shot 58.3% in the first half despite missing their first five field goals. They made 28 of 43 (65.1%) to close the first half after the slow start, led by Thomas’ 17 first-half points in his first action after missing the past nine games.
“I thought overall (Thomas) looked good,” Vaughn said. “He hasn’t been able to play a lot of basketball ... so good to have him back out there. Another weapon for us, now we’ve got to put it all together with more healthy bodies.”
Charlotte set a season high with 42 second-quarter points and made 11 of 19 3-pointers in the first half. Keyed by Hayward, who scored 10 of his 14 first-half points in the second quarter, Charlotte led by as many as seven and took a two-point advantage into halftime.
“We made so many shots,” Clifford said. “We battled hard. We just couldn’t stop them until the fourth quarter.”
UP NEXT
Hornets: Host Minnesota on Saturday.
Nets: Host Orlando on Saturday.
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| Time | Team | Play | Score | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 12:00 |  | Mark Williams vs. Nic Claxton (Terry Rozier gains possession) | ||
| 11:41 |  | Miles Bridges misses three point jump shot | ||
| 11:38 | | Nic Claxton defensive rebound | ||
| 11:25 | | Mikal Bridges misses two point pullup jump shot | ||
| 11:22 | | Mark Williams defensive rebound | ||
| 11:16 | | Terry Rozier misses two point pullup jump shot | ||
| 11:13 | | Mikal Bridges defensive rebound | ||
| 11:05 | | Cameron Johnson misses two point pullup jump shot | ||
| 11:03 | | Gordon Hayward defensive rebound | ||
| 10:51 | | +3 | Bryce McGowens makes three point jump shot (Gordon Hayward assists) | 3-0 |
| 10:36 | | Dorian Finney-Smith misses three point jump shot | ||
| 10:33 | | Mark Williams defensive rebound | ||
| 10:22 | | +3 | Gordon Hayward makes three point jump shot (Terry Rozier assists) | 6-0 |
| 10:08 | | Spencer Dinwiddie misses two point turnaround hook shot | ||
| 10:06 | | Mark Williams defensive rebound | ||
| 10:02 | | Terry Rozier turnover (out of bounds bad pass) | ||
| 9:48 | | Cameron Johnson misses three point jump shot | ||
| 9:45 | | Cameron Johnson offensive rebound | ||
| 9:44 | | +2 | Cameron Johnson makes two point putback layup | 6-2 |
| 9:26 | | +3 | Miles Bridges makes three point jump shot (Terry Rozier assists) | 9-2 |
| 9:08 | | +2 | Nic Claxton makes two point reverse dunk (Mikal Bridges assists) | 9-4 |
| 8:53 | | +2 | Mark Williams makes two point cutting layup (Bryce McGowens assists) | 11-4 |
| 8:35 | | Mikal Bridges misses three point jump shot | ||
| 8:31 | | Nic Claxton offensive rebound | ||
| 8:31 | | +2 | Nic Claxton makes two point turnaround hook shot | 11-6 |
| 8:14 | | Gordon Hayward misses three point pullup jump shot | ||
| 8:11 | | Spencer Dinwiddie defensive rebound | ||
| 7:59 | | +3 | Dorian Finney-Smith makes three point jump shot (Spencer Dinwiddie assists) | 11-9 |
| 7:43 | | Gordon Hayward turnover (lost ball) (Dorian Finney-Smith steals) | ||
| 7:39 | | +3 | Mikal Bridges makes three point running jump shot (Cameron Johnson assists) | 11-12 |
| 7:15 | | Gordon Hayward turnover (bad pass) (Nic Claxton steals) | ||
| 7:10 | | +2 | Mikal Bridges makes two point running pullup jump shot (Dorian Finney-Smith assists) | 11-14 |
| 6:50 | | +2 | Bryce McGowens makes two point driving layup | 13-14 |
| 6:37 | | +3 | Cameron Johnson makes three point jump shot (Mikal Bridges assists) | 13-17 |
| 6:08 | | Miles Bridges misses two point driving layup | ||
| 6:05 | | Mark Williams offensive rebound | ||
| 6:05 | | Mark Williams misses two point tip layup | ||
| 6:05 | | Mark Williams offensive rebound | ||
| 6:05 | | +2 | Mark Williams makes two point putback dunk | 15-17 |
| 6:05 | | Nets 60 second timeout | ||
| 5:54 | | Mikal Bridges misses three point jump shot | ||
| 5:53 | | Day'Ron Sharpe offensive rebound | ||
| 5:53 | | +2 | Day'Ron Sharpe makes two point putback layup | 15-19 |
| 5:53 | | Ish Smith shooting foul (Day'Ron Sharpe draws the foul) | ||
| 5:53 | | Mikal Bridges technical foul | ||
| 5:53 | | +1 | Gordon Hayward makes technical free throw 1 of 1 | 16-19 |
| 5:53 | | Day'Ron Sharpe misses regular free throw 1 of 1 | ||
| 5:50 | | P.J. Washington defensive rebound | ||
| 5:32 | | +3 | Bryce McGowens makes three point jump shot (P.J. Washington assists) | 19-19 |
| 5:15 | | +2 | Cam Thomas makes two point stepback jump shot | 19-21 |
| 5:00 | | +2 | Mark Williams makes two point dunk (Bryce McGowens assists) | 21-21 |
| 4:47 | | +2 | Cam Thomas makes two point fadeaway jump shot | 21-23 |
| 4:34 | | +2 | Mark Williams makes two point floating jump shot (Gordon Hayward assists) | 23-23 |
| 4:18 | | Cam Thomas misses two point stepback jump shot | ||
| 4:14 | | Dorian Finney-Smith offensive rebound | ||
| 4:14 | | +2 | Dorian Finney-Smith makes two point tip dunk | 23-25 |
| 3:55 | | P.J. Washington turnover (out of bounds bad pass) | ||
| 3:38 | | +2 | Day'Ron Sharpe makes two point driving hook shot | 23-27 |
| 3:19 | | Ish Smith turnover (bad pass) (Dorian Finney-Smith steals) | ||
| 3:17 | | P.J. Washington blocks Mikal Bridges's two point running layup | ||
| 3:17 | | Nets offensive rebound | ||
| 3:13 | | Ish Smith shooting foul (Cam Thomas draws the foul) | ||
| 3:13 | | +1 | Cam Thomas makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 23-28 |
| 3:13 | | +1 | Cam Thomas makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 23-29 |
| 2:53 | | JT Thor misses three point jump shot | ||
| 2:51 | | Cam Thomas defensive rebound | ||
| 2:36 | | +2 | Cam Thomas makes two point stepback jump shot | 23-31 |
| 2:22 | | +2 | Terry Rozier makes two point pullup jump shot (P.J. Washington assists) | 25-31 |
| 2:10 | | Cam Thomas misses two point pullup jump shot | ||
| 2:08 | | Day'Ron Sharpe offensive rebound | ||
| 2:01 | | Trendon Watford misses three point jump shot | ||
| 1:58 | | Terry Rozier defensive rebound | ||
| 1:54 | | Cam Thomas shooting foul (Terry Rozier draws the foul) | ||
| 1:54 | | Hornets 60 second timeout | ||
| 1:54 | | +1 | Terry Rozier makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 26-31 |
| 1:54 | | +1 | Terry Rozier makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 27-31 |
| 1:42 | | Ish Smith personal foul (Day'Ron Sharpe draws the foul) | ||
| 1:28 | | Mikal Bridges turnover (out of bounds bad pass) | ||
| 1:14 | | P.J. Washington offensive foul (Mikal Bridges draws the foul) | ||
| 1:14 | | P.J. Washington turnover (offensive foul) | ||
| 0:58 | | +2 | Mikal Bridges makes two point driving layup | 27-33 |
| 0:48 | | P.J. Washington misses three point jump shot | ||
| 0:46 | | Mikal Bridges defensive rebound | ||
| 0:40 | | +2 | Trendon Watford makes two point driving layup | 27-35 |
| 0:35 | | Trendon Watford shooting foul (Miles Bridges draws the foul) | ||
| 0:35 | | +1 | Miles Bridges makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 28-35 |
| 0:35 | | +1 | Miles Bridges makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 29-35 |
| 0:32 | | Cam Thomas misses three point running pullup jump shot | ||
| 0:28 | | Terry Rozier defensive rebound | ||
| 0:11 | | Day'Ron Sharpe personal foul (P.J. Washington draws the foul) | ||
| 0:11 | | +1 | P.J. Washington makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 30-35 |
| 0:11 | | +1 | P.J. Washington makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 31-35 |
| 0:01 | | +2 | Mikal Bridges makes two point driving layup (Trendon Watford assists) | 31-37 |
| 0:00 | | End of period |
| Time | Team | Play | Score | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 11:52 | | +2 | Cam Thomas makes two point cutting layup (Nic Claxton assists) | 31-39 |
| 11:52 | | Nick Smith Jr. shooting foul (Cam Thomas draws the foul) | ||
| 11:52 | | Cam Thomas misses regular free throw 1 of 1 | ||
| 11:50 | | P.J. Washington defensive rebound | ||
| 11:43 | | Trendon Watford personal foul (Miles Bridges draws the foul) | ||
| 11:34 | | JT Thor misses three point jump shot | ||
| 11:32 | | Trendon Watford defensive rebound | ||
| 11:26 | | +2 | Trendon Watford makes two point running layup | 31-41 |
| 11:13 | | +2 | Miles Bridges makes two point driving layup (Terry Rozier assists) | 33-41 |
| 11:01 | | Cameron Johnson misses three point jump shot | ||
| 10:59 | | Terry Rozier defensive rebound | ||
| 10:55 | | +2 | Terry Rozier makes two point running layup | 35-41 |
| 10:47 | | JT Thor personal foul (Nic Claxton draws the foul) | ||
| 10:41 | | Cameron Johnson turnover (bad pass) (P.J. Washington steals) | ||
| 10:36 | | +2 | Miles Bridges makes two point running dunk (Terry Rozier assists) | 37-41 |
| 10:16 | | Cam Thomas misses two point pullup jump shot | ||
| 10:14 | | JT Thor defensive rebound | ||
| 10:04 | | +3 | Terry Rozier makes three point stepback jump shot | 40-41 |
| 10:02 | | Nets 60 second timeout | ||
| 9:52 | | Nick Smith Jr. shooting foul (Lonnie Walker IV draws the foul) | ||
| 9:52 | | +1 | Lonnie Walker IV makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 40-42 |
| 9:52 | | Lonnie Walker IV misses regular free throw 2 of 2 | ||
| 9:50 | | Miles Bridges defensive rebound | ||
| 9:39 | | Miles Bridges misses two point alley-oop dunk | ||
| 9:37 | | Dorian Finney-Smith defensive rebound | ||
| 9:33 | | +3 | Cameron Johnson makes three point running jump shot (Spencer Dinwiddie assists) | 40-45 |
| 9:15 | | Terry Rozier misses two point pullup jump shot | ||
| 9:11 | | Nick Smith Jr. offensive rebound | ||
| 9:03 | | +3 | Nick Smith Jr. makes three point jump shot (Terry Rozier assists) | 43-45 |
| 8:42 | | +2 | Spencer Dinwiddie makes two point driving finger roll layup | 43-47 |
| 8:20 | | +3 | P.J. Washington makes three point jump shot (Terry Rozier assists) | 46-47 |
| 8:09 | | +3 | Cameron Johnson makes three point jump shot (Spencer Dinwiddie assists) | 46-50 |
| 7:52 | | Terry Rozier misses two point fadeaway jump shot | ||
| 7:50 | | Lonnie Walker IV defensive rebound | ||
| 7:37 | | +2 | Nic Claxton makes two point turnaround hook shot (Spencer Dinwiddie assists) | 46-52 |
| 7:37 | | Hornets 60 second timeout | ||
| 7:15 | | +3 | P.J. Washington makes three point jump shot (Terry Rozier assists) | 49-52 |
| 7:03 | | +3 | Lonnie Walker IV makes three point pullup jump shot | 49-55 |
| 6:50 | | +2 | Gordon Hayward makes two point driving floating jump shot (Terry Rozier assists) | 51-55 |
| 6:50 | | Nic Claxton shooting foul (Gordon Hayward draws the foul) | ||
| 6:50 | | +1 | Gordon Hayward makes regular free throw 1 of 1 | 52-55 |
| 6:41 | | Lonnie Walker IV misses two point pullup jump shot | ||
| 6:37 | | Gordon Hayward defensive rebound | ||
| 6:34 | | +2 | Gordon Hayward makes two point running layup | 54-55 |
| 6:27 | | Mark Williams kicked ball violation | ||
| 6:20 | | Lonnie Walker IV turnover (traveling) | ||
| 6:04 | | P.J. Washington misses three point jump shot | ||
| 6:01 | | Spencer Dinwiddie defensive rebound | ||
| 5:55 | | Spencer Dinwiddie turnover (out of bounds bad pass) | ||
| 5:42 | | Lonnie Walker IV personal foul (Bryce McGowens draws the foul) | ||
| 5:35 | | +3 | Gordon Hayward makes three point pullup jump shot (Mark Williams assists) | 57-55 |
| 5:21 | | +3 | Spencer Dinwiddie makes three point pullup jump shot (Lonnie Walker IV assists) | 57-58 |
| 5:03 | | Dorian Finney-Smith blocks Mark Williams's two point reverse layup | ||
| 5:00 | | Day'Ron Sharpe defensive rebound | ||
| 4:56 | | P.J. Washington blocks Mikal Bridges's two point running layup | ||
| 4:54 | | Bryce McGowens defensive rebound | ||
| 4:47 | | Spencer Dinwiddie shooting foul (Mark Williams draws the foul) |