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Charlotte Hornets power past Detroit Pistons in LaMelo Ball’s return

May 1, 2021; Charlotte, North Carolina, USA;  Charlotte Hornets guard LaMelo Ball (2) drives down court during the second half against the Detroit Pistons at the Spectrum Center. Hornets win 107-94. Mandatory Credit: Sam Sharpe-USA TODAY Sports
Sam Sharpe-USA TODAY Sports

A 13-0 run in the fourth quarter, 29 points from Terry Rozier and the return of LaMelo Ball to the lineup powered the Charlotte Hornets past the Detroit Pistons, 107-94, Saturday in Charlotte.

The Hornets (31-32) led for almost the entirety of the game, but a 20-6 Pistons run from the late third into the fourth quarter pulled Detroit within three points.

From there, Charlotte took over.

Terry Rozier scored eight of his game-high 29 during the Hornets’ mid-fourth-quarter run, as Charlotte pushed its lead to 16 points.

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Detroit (19-45) cut the margin back down to seven points with less than two minutes remaining, but Rozier knocked down two of his eight 3-pointers on consecutive possessions to effectively put the game away.

Charlotte dominated Detroit in fast-break points, 23-5, and held the Pistons to just 38.5 percent shooting overall.

Bismack Biyombo keyed the defensive effort with five blocked shots, while Cody Martin came away with a career-high-tying four steals. Biyombo also matched teammate Jaden McDaniels with a game-high nine rebounds.

The Hornets also got three blocked shots from P.J. Washington, and two each from Ball and McDaniels.

Ball played a solid all-around game in his return from a wrist injury that sidelined him since March 20. He finished with 11 points, a game-high eight assists and seven rebounds.

Miles Bridges scored 27 points to go with seven rebounds.

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Frank Jackson led Detroit with 25 points, and Saddiq Bey added 22. The duo combined for 11 of Detroit’s 13 made 3-pointers.

The Pistons finished 13-of-37 from outside, but shot just 22-of-54 from inside the 3-point arc. Killian Hayes, who had 10 points, six rebounds and six assists, shot 4-of-11 from the floor.

Josh Jackson, one of Detroit’s more reliable scorers at 13.6 points per game, went 2-of-10 from the field and finished with five points.

The Pistons were without season-long leading scorer Jerami Grant.

–Field Level Media

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