100 FOR BORREGO
ABQ native coaches in milestone victory
CHARLOTTE, N.C. — The Charlotte Hornets signed free agent Kelly Oubre Jr. this offseason to provide energy off the bench and allow starting forward Gordon Hayward to rest a little more so he can make it through an 82-game season.
Oubre is working out just as planned so far for the surging Hornets.
LaMelo Ball had 27 points, nine rebounds and seven assists and Oubre sparked the Hornets by scoring 13 of his 26 points in the decisive fourth quarter in a 125-113 victory over the Portland Trail Blazers on Sunday night.
“He has been fantastic,” said James Borrego, the Albuqurque Academy alumnus who won his 100th game as head coach of the Hornets. “This why we brought him here. We believe in him. We believe there is a major role for him on this team and tonight was a great example.”
Miles Bridges added 19 points and a career-high nine assists, and P.J. Washington had 17 points and some big plays down the stretch to help Charlotte improve to 5-2.
C.J. McCollum had 25 points for Portland, and Jusuf Nurkic had 13 points and 14 rebounds. The Blazers had won two in a row.
JAZZ 107, BUCKS 95: In Milwaukee, Donovan Mitchell scored 28 points and Utah handed the defending NBA champions their third straight loss.
Mike Conley added 20 points, Jordan Clarkson had 15 and Bojan Bogdanovic added 14 to help Utah rebound from its first loss of the season.
Giannis Antetokounmpo led Milwaukee with 25 points, seven rebounds and six assists.
Milwaukee has dropped three home games over the last five nights and has shot 27.5% (36 of 131) from 3-point range during that stretch.
Khris Middleton missed Sunday’s game with an illness, causing one more obstacle for a Milwaukee team that already has been playing without usual starters Jrue Holiday, Brook Lopez and Donte DiVincenzo due to injury. Reserve forward Rodney Hood left with a bruised right hand after playing just 11 minutes.
NETS 117, PISTONS 91: In New York, James Harden had 18 points, 10 rebounds, and 12 assists to power Brooklyn past Detroit. Kevin Durant added 23 points before being ejected in the third quarter. Cory Joseph led the Pistons with 13 points.
MAVERICKS 105, KINGS 99: In Dallas, Luka Doncic made a 36-foot 3-pointer to beat the shot clock and blunt a late Sacramento rally and finished with 23 points in Dallas’ victory. The Kings cut a 12-point deficit to 92-89 with 4:53 to play.
With about two seconds left on the 24-second clock, Doncic hit the 3 from just past the centercourt logo. Richaun Holmes had 22 points and 13 rebounds for Sacramento.