RECAP
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BOX SCORE
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GAME FLOW
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) Nothing cures a slumping team quite like
a game against the injury-depleted New Jersey Nets.
| | Charlotte's Baron Davis, right, draws a foul by Keith Van Horn in the second quarter. | The Charlotte Hornets ended their four-game losing streak with
an 88-78 victory over the Nets on Thursday night.
It was Charlotte's first victory since a 103-88 win at New
Jersey last week and completed a four-game sweep of the season
series over the Nets.
"We got the monkey off our back," coach Paul Silas said.
"There's nothing like a win to get you back on track. This was an
important game as far as getting our confidence back on track."
Elden Campbell scored 17 of his 22 points in the second half to
lead the Hornets.
Campbell, who shot 6-for-9 from the field and 10-of-11 from the
line, scored 15 of his points in the third quarter.
Campbell, who scored 20 or more points for the third straight
game, credited his production to his warmup routine. Instead of
randomly taking shots before the game, Campbell said he is shooting
quick jumpers from various spots on the floor while trying to hit
four in a row.
"At first, I was just doing it to get loose, but I broke a
sweat the first time I did it and it got me into a pretty good
rhythm," Campbell said. "Now my shots are falling and I'm looking
for jumpers a little bit more during the game instead of always
trying to take it to the basket."
Campbell scored nine straight points in a 12-6 third-quarter run
that gave the Hornets a 67-53 lead. He sparked Charlotte by making
three jumpers -- one from 16 feet -- and three free throws.
"Elden has been working hard and it's really beginning to
show," Silas said. "He's taking it strong to the hoop, not fading
away, and he's been making his free throws. That bodes well for us
as we begin the postseason."
Reserve Eddie Robinson scored 18 points for Charlotte. Baron
Davis scored 16, Jamal Mashburn 12 and P.J. Brown had 12 rebounds.
The only Hornet to have an off night was guard David Wesley, who
was scoreless on 0-for-13 shooting.
Former Net Scott Burrell, signed Tuesday by the Hornets after
sitting out all season following knee surgery, scored five points
in 12 minutes for Charlotte. He made the first shot he attempted --
a 19-foot jumper in the second quarter.
Burrell, a first-round draft pick by Charlotte in 1993, received
a loud ovation from the fans when he checked into the game. He was
the last player in the locker room afterward because so many fans
stayed around the court asking for autographs.
"I felt pretty good being out there," Burrell said. "I'm a
little winded, but that's going to come. But I got a little
confidence back and that was good because I wasn't sure where I
was."
Johnny Newman led New Jersey with 16 points. Keith Van Horn had
14 points and 11 rebounds.
The Hornets controlled the first half and held a 45-32 lead at
the break, only to open the third quarter with one of their
familiar collapses.
Part of Charlotte's problem in its recent slump has been coming
out flat in the second half. The Hornets did it again against the
Nets.
Newman hit consecutive 3-pointers in a 14-8 run to pull the Nets
within 53-46 with 6:26 to play in the period.
Charlotte took a timeout, then turned up its intensity behind
Campbell and the Nets couldn't recover.
"We need to understand that if we're going to beat teams, we
need to exceed their energy level," Van Horn said. "I felt we
matched Charlotte's energy tonight but we didn't exceed it."
Game notes Charlotte forward Derrick Coleman didn't play and the box
score listed it as a "Coach's Decision." Coleman did not
participate in the pregame shootaround, and stood along the
sideline swinging his arms during the halftime shootaround. ... New
Jersey's Stephen Jackson did not play because of a sore right foot.
... The Hornets presented team physician Glenn Perry his Olympic
ring at halftime. Perry served as doctor for the U.S. team in
Sydney last summer.
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ALSO SEE
NBA Scoreboard
New Jersey Clubhouse
Charlotte Clubhouse
RECAPS
Charlotte 88 New Jersey 78
Milwaukee 115 Utah 93
Orlando 101 Philadelphia 77
Sacramento 107 San Antonio 105
Portland 100 Vancouver 87
LA Lakers 119 Minnesota 102
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