LaMelo Ball and Terry Rozier scored 17 points apiece and the Charlotte Hornets finally caught up in the final minutes in a 106-103 victory against the visiting New Orleans Pelicans on Wednesday in a clash of teams vying for playoff spots.
Charlotte's Mason Plumlee scored on two dunks in the final minute, but Pelicans rookie guard Jose Alvarado answered the second of those with a hoop, cutting the gap to 104-103. Ball countered by making a running floater with 8.9 seconds to stretch Charlotte's lead in what became their fifth consecutive win.
The hosts nearly forced a turnover before Devonte' Graham, an ex-Hornet playing as a visitor for the first time in Charlotte, missed on a desperation heave from just inside midcourt.