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RECAP
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BOX SCORE
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GAME FLOW
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) -- The Charlotte Hornets continued their
push toward the playoffs Monday night by winning their third
consecutive game, 106-83 over the Atlanta Hawks.
Jamal Mashburn scored 31 points to lead the Hornets, who
clinched at least sixth place in the Eastern Conference. They trail
fifth-place Toronto by a half-game.
The Hornets, losers of eight of 10 before their recent
turnaround, close the regular season Wednesday night at Boston.
Baron Davis had 18 points and 12 assists and Elden Campbell
scored 12 for the Hornets, who beat Atlanta for the sixth consecutive time.
Dion Glover scored 16 and Matt Maloney had 12 to lead Atlanta,
which lost backup forward Hanno Mottola midway through the fourth
quarter with a sprained ankle.
Mashburn scored 23 in the first half to help the Hornets to a
60-43 lead at the break. Charlotte shot 58 percent in the half
while building its lead.
For once, the Hornets didn't relax in the third quarter.
Charlotte, which has a tendency to allow teams back into games
early in the second half, opened the third quarter by converting
two steals into jumpers by Mashburn and Campbell to build a 64-43
lead.
The Hornets stretched it to 79-53 on Mashburn's layup with 4:06
to play and never let the Hawks get much closer.
That allowed Charlotte to rest its starters, something coach
Paul Silas had been unable to do down the stretch as the Hornets
struggled. Mashburn, Campbell and P.J. Brown didn't play in the
fourth quarter and Davis and Wesley's minutes were limited.
Every Hornet scored against the Hawks. Eddie Robinson led the
reserves with 10 points and 10 rebounds and Derrick Coleman chipped
in with eight points and 10 rebounds in 17 minutes.
Game notes
The Hornets went 4-0 against Atlanta, marking the first
time in series history Charlotte has swept. Atlanta swept Charlotte
two seasons in a row from 1997-99. ... Atlanta guard Jason Terry,
who scored more than 20 points in the last two games against
Charlotte, was held to five on 2-for-10 shooting. ... Jennifer
Hawkins, wife of Charlotte guard Hersey Hawkins, sang the national
anthem. As she walked off the court, Hawkins kidded her by saying
"What? Did they have a cancellation or something?"
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ALSO SEE
NBA Scoreboard
Atlanta Clubhouse
Charlotte Clubhouse
RECAPS
Charlotte 106
Atlanta 83
Cleveland 80
New York 78
Milwaukee 101
Orlando 89
Dallas 110
Golden State 101
LA Clippers 100
Phoenix 80
Sacramento 110
Vancouver 100
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