NBA: Hornets blast Mavericks to get back to .500

Brandon Miller scored 17 points as Charlotte used stretches of strong perimeter shooting in a 117-90 victory against the visiting Dallas Mavericks that gave the Hornets a five-game winning streak Tuesday night.

LaMelo Ball's 15 points along with contributions from Kon Knueppel (13 points), Sion James (13), Grant Williams (12), Miles Bridges (11), Josh Green (11) and Ryan Kalkbrenner (10) supplied a well-balanced attack as the Hornets have won 15 of their last 18 games. Charlotte made 20 of 51 shots from 3-point range, led by four apiece from Ball and Williams.

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Brandon Williams had 18 points -- 10 of those on free throws -- to lead the Mavericks, but they couldn't overcome horrid 3-point shooting (3-for-22). P.J. Washington had 13 points, Dwight Powell notched 12 points from the bench, Max Christie added 11 points and Daniel Gafford had 10 points.

There wasn't a rookie showdown between former Duke teammates because Dallas forward Cooper Flagg, who has missed more than three weeks of action, remains out with a foot injury. Knueppel didn't come close to matching his 34 points from a two-point victory in Dallas in late January.

Charlotte rose to a .500 record at 31-31. It is the first time the Hornets have been .500 or better in March since the 2021-22 season.

Ball's effort included nine assists, five rebounds and five steals.

The Hornets shot a better percentage from 3-point range (39.2%) than Dallas did from the floor (37.8%). The Mavericks, who also were without injured Klay Thompson, benefitted from 31-for-42 free-throw shooting. No Dallas player made more than one 3-point basket.

The Hornets connected on six first-quarter 3-point shots to claim a 31-23 lead when Dallas went 0-for-6 on long-range attempts. The Mavericks didn't have a 3-point basket until ex-Hornet Washington sank a shot from beyond the arc in the second quarter.

Charlotte's lead was at 57-48 at halftime. The Mavericks faded in the second half, managing only 18 fourth-quarter points.

Both teams were charged with 14 turnovers by game's end.

—Field Level Media/Reuters