(Charlotte) Terry Rozier and Kelly Oubre each scored 23 points as the Charlotte Hornets beat the Toronto Raptors 125-93 on Friday night in the first game for the two teams since the All-Star Game break in the NBA.
Posted yesterday at 10:25 p.m.
Montrezl Harrell contributed to the hosts’ attack with 20 points. The Hornets never trailed from start to finish, widening the gap to 41 points at one point late in the third quarter.
In the loss, Scottie Barnes had his best offensive production with 28 points for the Raptors.
Prior to the All-Star Game break, the Hornets had suffered nine losses in ten games and looked completely exhausted. It seems the team has found a way to recharge their batteries while on vacation. The Hornets came into the game strong, quickly building a 14-2 lead. The Raptors looked completely rusty then, exhibiting a mediocre 1-for-10 efficiency rating on their outside shots.
At halftime, the Hornets were already leading 70-47 thanks to two three-point shots and a dunk by P. J. Washington.
Coming back from the locker room, the Raptors looked equally amorphous as the Hornets capitalized on a 19-0 third quarter streak to widen their lead to 41 points.
The resounding victory allowed the Hornets to end a seven-game losing streak at home.
A sign that the Raptors were totally downgraded throughout the game, the Hornets dominated the fights under the basket recovering 52 rebounds against 36 for the Raptors.
Head coach Nick Nurse’s players will have a chance to pull themselves together quickly as they face the Hawks in Atlanta on Saturday.
