Kyrie Irving scores 25, Moses Brown adds 20 points and 11 rebounds in Mavs' 103-96 win over Hornets

Kyrie Irving scores 25, Moses Brown adds 20 points and 11 rebounds in Mavs’ 103-96 win over Hornets

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Dallas Mavericks guard Kyrie Irving (11) watches his shot against Charlotte Hornets guard Josh Green (10) during the first half of an NBA basketball game in Dallas, Thursday, Feb. 27, 2025. (AP Photo/LM Otero)

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Dallas Mavericks guard Kyrie Irving (11) congratulates teammate forward Naji Marshall (13) after a play during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Charlotte Hornets in Dallas, Thursday, Feb. 27, 2025. (AP Photo/LM Otero)

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Dallas Mavericks center Moses Brown hangs on the rim after dunking against the Charlotte Hornets during the first half of an NBA basketball game in Dallas, Thursday, Feb. 27, 2025. (AP Photo/LM Otero)

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Charlotte Hornets guard Josh Green (10) tries to keep the ball from Dallas Mavericks guard Kyrie Irving (11) during the first half of an NBA basketball game in Dallas, Thursday, Feb. 27, 2025. (AP Photo/LM Otero)

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Dallas Mavericks guard Max Christie (00) drives against Charlotte Hornets guard KJ Simpson (25) as Mavericks center Moses Brown (9) looks on during the first half of an NBA basketball game in Dallas, Thursday, Feb. 27, 2025. (AP Photo/LM Otero)

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Charlotte Hornets forward Miles Bridges (0) grabs the rebound in front of Dallas Mavericks center Moses Brown (9) during the first half of an NBA basketball game in Dallas, Thursday, Feb. 27, 2025. (AP Photo/LM Otero)

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Dallas Mavericks guard Klay Thompson (31) drives against Charlotte Hornets guard Nick Smith Jr. (8) during the first half of an NBA basketball game in Dallas, Thursday, Feb. 27, 2025. (AP Photo/LM Otero)

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Dallas Mavericks guard Kyrie Irving (11) drives against Charlotte Hornets guard Josh Green (10) during the first half of an NBA basketball game in Dallas, Thursday, Feb. 27, 2025. (AP Photo/LM Otero)

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Dallas Mavericks guard Klay Thompson (31) is cheered by the bench after scoring a three pointer during the second half of an NBA basketball game against the Charlotte Hornets in Dallas, Thursday, Feb. 27, 2025. (AP Photo/LM Otero)

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Dallas Mavericks head coach Jason Kidd, left, questions a call to referee Derek Richardson during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Charlotte Hornets in Dallas, Thursday, Feb. 27, 2025. (AP Photo/LM Otero)

DALLAS (AP) — Kyrie Irving scored 18 of his 25 points in the second half and grabbed nine rebounds to lead the Dallas Mavericks to a 103-96 victory over the Charlotte Hornets on Thursday night.

Moses Brown, in his penultimate game on a 10-day contract, added 20 points and 11 rebounds in 31 minutes of his first start for the Mavericks.

Mark Williams had 26 points and 16 rebounds for the Hornets, who have lost five consecutive games and 16 of their last 19. Miles Bridges had 20 points and 12 rebounds.

P.J. Washington Jr. again joined Anthony Davis, Daniel Gafford and Dereck Lively II among Dallas big men unavailable because of injury. Washington left the Mavericks’ Feb. 8 game with a sprained right ankle and has missed four of seven games since.

LaMelo Ball, who leads the Hornets in scoring and assists, missed his second consecutive game with an ankle injury.

Takeaways

Hornets: Charlotte went 1-8 playing nine consecutive road games, matching a franchise-long road run. The last six followed the All-Star break. The Hornets are 1-21 in games without Ball.

Mavericks: At 32-28, the Mavericks are ninth in the Western Conference but only one game out of sixth place and the conference’s last guaranteed playoff berth. ... It was Brown’s highest-scoring game since his career-high 24 points for Oklahoma City in the final game of the 2020-21 season.

Key moment

Irving missed a 3-pointer with Dallas leading 94-91 with 1:52 left but tipped the ball amid a scramble out to Klay Thompson, whose right-corner 3 put the Mavericks ahead 97-91 with 1:48 to play.

Key stat

Irving hit eight of his final 11 shot attempts.

Up next

The Hornets will begin a five-game homestand against Washington on Saturday, when the Mavericks will host Milwaukee.

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AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/nba