Rozier, Hornets hold on to beat Wizards 117-116

Updated Dec. 2, 2022 9:46 p.m. ET

Associated Press

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — Terry Rozier scored 25 points, Kelly Oubre Jr. added 22 and the Charlotte Hornets held off a second-half rally by Bradley Beal and the Wizards to hand Washington its fifth loss in the six games, 117-116 on Friday night.

P.J. Washington had 21 points and Mason Plumlee added 17 points and 10 rebounds for the Hornets, who have won three of their last four.

Beal scored 33 points, but turned the ball over twice and missed an open jumper in the final minute with Washington trailing by one. The Wizards came up empty on their final four possessions, costing them the game.

Kristaps Porzingis had 21 points and 11 rebounds for the Wizards. Corey Kispert added 14 points off the bench.

Kyle Kuzma finished with 14 points for Washington. Kuzma had given the Hornets fits in the previous two meetings this season, scoring 28 points in a 108-100 road win and 20 points in a 106-102 home victory.

The Hornets put up a season-high 74 points in the first half, taking a 15-point lead into the locker room behind 16 points from Oubre and 15 from Rozier while shooting 52.9% from the field.

Charlotte stretched its lead to 22 in the third quarter but the Wizards mounted a huge fourth-quarter comeback to cut the lead to three with 4 minutes left when Beal knocked down a short pull-up jumper in the lane.

Beal later drove the lane for a reverse layup to trim the lead to one.

Trailing by one, the Wizards had chances on four separate possessions to take the lead in the final minute but failed to do so.

Porzingis missed an open jumper and Beal turned the ball over twice in the final minute, with Oubre coming up with a key steal with 35 seconds left. After a Hornets miss, Beal again tried to put Washington on top but missed a jumper. Washington corralled the rebound to seal the game with 0.2 seconds left, drawing a sigh of relief from the home crowd.

TIP-INS

Wizards: Shot 26 of 35 from the foul line. ... Outrebounded Charlotte 56-45.

Hornets: PG LaMelo Ball has missed 19 of 22 games this season due to ankle sprains. ... Plumlee, shooting left handed, was 7 of 9 from the foul line.

UP NEXT

Wizards: Host Los Angeles Lakers on Sunday night.

Hornets: Host Milwaukee on Saturday night.

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