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  Thursday, Jun. 1 7:30pm ET
Miracle holds off late Charlotte charge
 
  RECAP | BOX SCORE

ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) -- Nykesha Sales scored 24 points and the Orlando Miracle held off a late charge by the Charlotte Sting to win their home opener 82-79 Thursday night.

Shannon Johnson added 16 points, Adrienne Johnson 14 and Taj McWilliams 11 for Orlando.

Charlotte cut Orlando's lead to 80-79 on a layup and foul shot by Rhonda Mapp with 33.5 seconds remaining. Shannon Johnson was fouled and hit both free throws for the final margin. Charlotte Smith's game-tying 3-point attempt was short.

Andrea Stinson led Charlotte with 18. Smith added 15 and Mapp 10 for the Sting, who shot 7-of-14 from 3-point range.

Orlando led by as many as 13 in the second half, 70-57, at the 9:37 mark.

Charlotte got to 76-71 with 2:52 remaining on a 3-pointer by Smith. The teams traded baskets until Stinson's 3-pointer cut Orlando's lead to 80-76 with 1:40 left.

McWilliams' jumper at the 6:19 mark in the first half broke a 25-25 tie as the Miracle went on a 17-6 run to take a 42-31 lead with 1:47 remaining.

Charlotte closed with a 6-2 run to trail 44-37 at the half. Sales led all scorers with 18 first-half points on 6-of-13 shooting.
 


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RECAPS
Orlando 82
Charlotte 79

Indiana 57
Miami 54

Utah 83
Minnesota 74

Houston 77
Seattle 47