By Canadian Press

Gordon Hayward scores 24 points as hot-shooting Hornets hold off Scottie Barnes, Raptors 119-116

Dec 8, 2023 | 7:07 PM

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — Gordon Hayward scored 24 points, Miles Bridges added 22 and the hot-shooting Charlotte Hornets survived Scottie Barnes’ triple-double to beat the Toronto Raptors 119-116 on Friday night.

Terry Rozier had 21 points and 13 assists and rookie Brandon Miller scored 20 for the Hornets, who shot 55.7% from the field, 52% from beyond the 3-point arc and made 18 of 20 free throws.

Barnes had 31 points, 10 assists and 10 rebounds for Toronto, but missed a 3-pointer at the buzzer that would have sent the game into overtime. It was the third triple-double of his career and second this season.

Pascal Siakam added 25 points for the Raptors, who trailed by 13 points to start the fourth quarter and rallied to take a five-point lead, only to squander it down the stretch.

Both teams entered the game having lost four of their previous five.

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The Hornets led by 20 in the first half and took a 90-77 lead into the fourth quarter. But the Raptors opened the period with an 11-2 run, fueled by their reserves.

Toronto took the lead with seven minutes left when Precious Achiuwa knocked down a 3 and pushed its advantage to five when Barnes hit a runner in the lane, drawing boos from the crowd.

But the Hornets stormed back behind a barrage of 3s — two from Bridges and one each from Rozier and Miller — to give them a one-point lead with 4:23 left, prompting Raptors coach Darko Rajakovic to put his starters back in.

Rozier buried a difficult step-back jumper from the left wing to put Charlotte up by three with 22.2 seconds left before inadvertently fouling Barnes on a 3-point attempt. Barnes missed the first free throw before making the final two.

After Rozier made two free throws with 7.3 seconds left, Barnes’ final 3-point attempt at the buzzer hit the rim and bounced out.

The Hornets came into the game having made 43.9% of their 3-pointers in the previous three games and stayed hot in the first half, making 8 of 13 from beyond the arc to build a 66-54 halftime lead.

Charlotte finished 13 of 25 from beyond the arc.

Toronto’s Otto Porter Jr. left the game in the first half with a left foot contusion.

UP NEXT

Raptors: At New York on Monday night.

Hornets: Host Miami on Monday night.

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AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/NBA

Steve Reed, The Associated Press