Feb 27, 2025; Dallas, Texas, USA; Dallas Mavericks guard Kyrie Irving (11) shoots past Charlotte Hornets forward Miles Bridges (0) during the second half at American Airlines Center. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-Imagn Images
Kyrie Irving poured in 25 points while powering the Dallas Mavericks past the visiting Charlotte Hornets 103-96 in the NBA on Thursday.
Irving, who tallied 19 points in the second half, tied his season best with nine rebounds.
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Moses Brown tacked on season bests of 20 points and 11 rebounds, and Klay Thompson logged 18 points as the Mavericks ended a two-game skid.
READ: NBA: Kyrie Irving lifts Mavericks to win over Pelicans
Mark Williams (26 points, 16 rebounds) and Miles Bridges (20 points, 12 rebounds) both picked up double-doubles for the Hornets, who absorbed their fifth loss in a row.
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Dallas led by nine early in the fourth quarter before Charlotte twice pulled level, the second time on a Williams floater that made it 85-85 with 6:06 to go.
The Mavericks were up by two before Irving took control with under five minutes remaining. He hit two mid-range baskets and completed a three-point play on the second to give the Mavericks a 94-87 advantage with 4:09 to go.
A pair of layups by Bridges brought Charlotte within three points with three minutes to go, but Thompson drilled a 3-pointer, Irving hit a short floater and Brown dunked create a 10-point gap with 53.4 seconds left.
READ: NBA: Kyrie Irving’s big night lifts Mavericks past Warriors
After a slow start in which the Hornets fell as far as 11 points behind, they closed out the first quarter on an 8-0 run to get within 25-24.
Early in the second quarter, KJ Simpson and Nick Smith Jr. nailed back-to-back 3-pointers to give the Hornets a 30-25 lead.
Brown had a pair of baskets before Thompson drained a trey with 6:07 remaining in the second to regain the lead for the Mavericks at 40-39. Dallas was up 50-49 entering halftime.
Irving scored nine straight points for the Mavericks in the middle of the third quarter, including back-to-back layups 20 seconds apart to give Dallas a 66-63 lead.
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The lead changed hands six times in the third. A layup from Brown off an Irving assist gave Dallas a 73-67 edge entering the final period. –Field Level Media
