By Adrian Stewart Co

Terry Rozier carried the load for the Charlotte Hornets for a come-from-behind 102-100 stunner over Golden State Warriors (GSW) in the 2020-2021 NBA Season on Saturday night (Sunday in the Philippines) at the Spectrum Center in Charlotte, North Carolina.

Down 81-91 late in the fourth quarter, Rozier ignited a huge Hornets uprising with a two-pointer and a triple to come to within 92-94 following a triple by Gordon Hayward.

The Warriors widened the edge to 97-92 following free throws by Eric Paschall and Brad Wanamaker but back-to-back triples by Rozier pulled the Hornets to within 98-100.

GSW’s Draymond Green was then slapped with two technical fouls that led to game-tying free throws by Rozier before he drained a buzzer-beater to complete Charlotte’s come-from-behind win.

Rozier finished the match with 36 points, including eight three-point baskets, while PJ Washington and Gordon Hayward chipped in 15 and 13 markers, respectively, as the Hornets improved to 14-15.

Kelly Oubre Jr. led the way with 25 points, while Andrew Wiggins and Paschall added 19 and 16 markers, respectively, for the 16-15 Warriors, which played minus Stephen Curry due to illness.

Meanwhile, Miami Heat survived a late uprising by the Los Angeles Lakers to escape with a 96-94 victory in the rematch of the 2020 NBA Finals protagonists.

Holding to an 89-79 edge early in the fourth, the Lakers mounted a huge run to come to within 92-94. Free throws by Jimmy Butler and defensive stop down the stretch allowed Miami to escape.

Kendrick Nunn finished the match with 27 points, including five triples, while Butler and Bam Adebayo added 24 and 16 markers, respectively, for the Heat.

BOX SCORE:

CHARLOTTE 102 – Rozier 36, Washington 15, Hayward 13, Bridges 10, McDaniels 9, Ball 7, Monk 7, Zeller 5, Biyombo 0.

GOLDEN STATE 100 – Oubre 25, Wiggins 19, Paschall 16, Lee 14, Wanamaker 14, Green 5, Toscano-Anderson 3, Mulder 2, Bazemore 2.

Quarterscores: 24-15, 45-47, 69-69, 102-100./ASC, WDJ