Rozier, Plumlee lead Hornets past Bulls 111-96

CHARLOTTE,N.C. (AP) — Terry Rozier scored 28 points, Mason Plumlee added yetanother strong performance with 21 points and 12 rebounds and theCharlotte Hornets defeated the Chicago Bulls 111-96 on Thursdaynight.

GordonHayward scored 17 points, and LaMelo Ball returned from athree-game absence due to a sprained ankle and wrist injury andchipped in with 15 points, 11 rebounds and eight assists toovercome a horrible 2-for-15 shooting night.

Plumlee,meanwhile, was 9 of 9 from the field, continuing a remarkable runin which he is averaging 17.5 points and 11.2 rebounds over thelast 14 games while shooting a 75.8% (94 of 124) from thefield.

Hornets coachSteve Clifford said the biggest difference is Plumlee’s game thisseason is he’s more confident in his free throw shooting and isattacking the basket more aggressively, trying to draw contactinstead of avoiding it.

Plumlee shot39.2% from the free throw line last year and eventually changedfrom shooting right-handed to left-handed.

He’s shooting66.6% from the line this year with his left hand.

“He has suchgood instincts, he’s faking and creating contact versus the film Iwatched last year, he wasn’t going into contact as much,” Cliffordsaid. ”... He’s taking the ball hard to the basket, and he feelsgood about his free throw shooting. To be able to do what he’s done(switching shooting hands), I’m not sure many people can do that.He was in here all summer doing it, so he’s got confidence.”

Plumlee iseven shooting his jump shots left-handed, although he doesn’tattempt many.

But he burieda 14-footer with 1:30 left in the game to put Charlotte up by 12,screaming excitedly at the Hornets’ bench prompting his teammatesto jump out of their seats and wave towels.

“He works onit every day, so it’s about time he took one,” joked Rozier.

Said Plumlee:“Just felt good. Low clock, stepping into it. It felt good.”

DeMar DeRozanhad 28 points for the Bulls, while Zach LaVine finished with 18points and nine rebounds, but was quiet in the second half. PatrickWilliams had 15 points, but Chicago’s three-game win streak came toan end.

The Bullsbuilt a 55-47 lead at halftime behind a balanced attack whileholding the Hornets to 39.5% shooting the first half.

But theHornets battled back to tie the game at 71 late in the thirdquarter behind Rozier, who tied a franchise record with five thirdquarter steals while turning the momentum with six straightpoints.

Charlottebegan to pull away in the fourth quarter, building a 97-88 leadbehind a 3-pointer from Ball and a driving layup by Plumlee. Balland Plumlee combined for 18 points in the fourth.

The Hornetshad lost seven of their last nine games, but played an inspiredsecond half, particularly on defense. They limited to the Bulls to5-of-24 shooting from the field and outscored Chicago 34-17.

“There aregoing to be those nights where we didn’t shoot the ball well at allfrom the 3, we just didn’t,” Bulls coach Billy Donovan said. “Wehave got to find just more desperation. We have got to become moredesperate, and I think there are times where we are just notdesperate enough and that is what it is going to take.”

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NASCARdrivers Bubba Wallace, Kurt Busch and Tyler Reddick took in thegame from courtside as the part of “crossover night.” All threedrive for the 23XI NASCAR team co-owned by Hornets owner MichaelJordan and driver Denny Hamlin.

TIPINS

Bulls: Onlyreceived 11 points from their bench.

Hornets:Outrebounded the Bulls 52-43.