QuickCap: Charlotte Hornets lose season series against the Brooklyn Nets with 88-91 loss

The Charlotte Hornets fell to the Brooklyn Nets 91-88, in what was a uninspiring and frustrating game. With the loss, the Hornets lose the season series to the Nets 2-1, and with identical records, fall to 11th place in the Eastern Conference standings, but remain only a game back of Boston for the eighth spot in the playoffs.

Charlotte led after the first and second quarters, and at one point led by 10 in the third. From that point, their offense stalled, and by the fourth quarter found themselves down as much as eight. Despite tying the game on multiple occasions late in the fourth quarter, Charlotte was unable to get the necessary stops to re-take the lead. Down five with under four seconds remaining, Kemba Walker cut the lead to three, and on the ensuing inbounds, Mo Williams knocked the ball out of Deron Williams hand, giving Charlotte a chance to tie the game. The Hornets would turn the ball over on their inbounds attempt, thus sealing the loss.

Al Jefferson and Gerald Henderson each scored 23 points, with Jefferson adding 10 rebounds. The point guard duo of Walker and Mo Williams struggled however, combining to score just 20 points on 6-29 shooting.

Brook Lopez led all scorers with 34 points, to go along with 10 rebounds. Alan Anderson scored 13 points off the bench, while Deron Williams had a double-double with 10 points and 14 assists.

It was an ugly game for Charlotte, who in the second half looked sluggish. Despite remaining in the thick of the Eastern Conference playoff picture, the Hornets are sputtering to the end of the season, and with this loss have less control over the destiny, as Brooklyn now holds the tiebreaker.

The Hornets play again on Friday, as they take on the Washington Wizards on the road in the first game of a back-to-back.