Hornets Dominate Mavericks 117-90 to Reach .500 Mark with Fifth Straight Victory
Mar 3, 2026; Charlotte, North Carolina, USA; Charlotte Hornets forward Miles Bridges (0) passes against Dallas Mavericks center Daniel Gafford (21) during the first half at the Spectrum Center. Mandatory Credit: Sam Sharpe-Imagn Images
The Charlotte Hornets delivered a commanding 117-90 victory over the Dallas Mavericks on Tuesday night at the Spectrum Center, marking their fifth consecutive win and achieving a significant milestone by reaching .500 for the first time since October 28th.
Brandon Miller led the Hornets’ balanced scoring attack with 17 points, while LaMelo Ball contributed 15 points and nine assists to help Charlotte improve to 31-31. The victory represents a remarkable turnaround for a franchise that has won 15 of their last 18 games, reaching .500 or better in March for the first time since the 2021-2022 season.
Bench Production Powers Charlotte’s Offensive Explosion
The Hornets’ bench unit provided exceptional firepower, particularly from beyond the arc. Charlotte’s reserves shot an impressive 12 of 21 from 3-points range, with Grant Williams connecting on four 3-points shots, while Josh Green and Sion James each contributed three. Pat Connaughton added two more from long distance as the Hornets finished 20 of 51 from 3-points territory.
Charlotte established control early, connecting on six first-quarter 3-points shots to build a 31-23 lead while Dallas struggled mightily from beyond the arc, going 0-for-6 in the opening period. The Mavericks didn’t record their first 3-points basket until the second quarter when P.J. Washington finally broke through.
The Hornets maintained their advantage throughout, leading 57-48 at halftime before extending their lead to 22 points in the closing seconds of the third quarter when James buried a corner 3-points shot. Dallas managed only 18 fourth-quarter points as Charlotte pulled away for the decisive victory.
For the struggling Mavericks, who have now lost 14 of 16 games, Brandon Williams led the way with 18 points, including 10 from the free-throw line. P.J. Washington added 13 points, while Dwight Powell contributed 12 points off the bench. However, Dallas shot a dismal 3-for-22 from 3-points range and managed only 37.8% shooting from the field overall.
The anticipated rookie showdown between former Duke teammates Cooper Flagg and Kon Knueppel failed to materialize, as Flagg remained sidelined with a midfoot strain. Knueppel struggled significantly, finishing with just 13 points on 1-of-7 shooting from 3-points range, a far cry from his 34-point performance in their previous meeting.
Despite committing a season-high 31 fouls and allowing Dallas 42 free-throw attempts, Charlotte’s superior perimeter shooting proved decisive in securing another crucial victory in their push toward playoff contention.
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