The Hornets also saw standout performances from Cody Martin, who achieved a personal best with 25 points, and LaMelo Ball, who added 19 points to the total. Early in the game, Charlotte built a significant lead of 23 points in the first half. However, they watched the Raptors close the gap before responding with a strong 12-0 run that propelled them ahead at the end of the third quarter.
On the Raptors’ side, RJ Barrett led the charge with 31 points, while Gradey Dick delivered a career-high 30 points. Jakob Poeltl contributed a solid performance with 20 points and 16 rebounds, though Toronto was without Scottie Barnes, who is sidelined for at least three weeks due to an orbital fracture.
The Hornets’ bench played a crucial role in this victory, racking up a total of 72 points, with Mann, Martin, and Grant Williams—who scored 17 points—combining for 69 of those.
Key observations from the game include the Raptors struggling to find their offensive rhythm in the first quarter without Barnes, leading to seven turnovers that allowed Charlotte to build a significant lead. However, Toronto mounted a comeback in the second quarter, scoring 43 points and showcasing their resilient spirit.
For Charlotte, the presence of LaMelo Ball was evident as he energized the team, despite some careless turnovers. His influence was clear during the critical late third-quarter stretch, where he scored five consecutive points, made a steal, and assisted on Mann’s three-pointer, flipping the game momentum in favor of Charlotte when they were trailing by five points.
With just 29 seconds remaining, Ball secured a crucial bucket to increase their lead to five points, effectively sealing the game as both teams traded free throws down the stretch.
An interesting statistic to note is the shooting efficiency of Mann, Martin, and Williams, who collectively shot an impressive 67% from the floor (24 of 36).
Looking ahead, the Raptors will host the Los Angeles Lakers on Friday night. Meanwhile, the Hornets are set to face off against the Boston Celtics in back-to-back games this coming Friday and Saturday night.