ATLANTA (AP) — Gordon Hayward scored a career-high 44 points and the Charlotte Hornets recovered after trailing for the first time in the fourth quarter and beat the Atlanta Hawks 102-94 on Wednesday night.
The Hornets led by double figures most of the game before Atlanta claimed its first lead, at 86-85, on John Collins' three-point play with 5:22 remaining. Hayward answered with a jumper and his own three-point play and the Hornets never trailed again.
Hayward said it was a true career high — the most points he had scored at any level.
“I never scored 40 in high school,” Hayward said before giving credit to his teammates.