Hornets-Mavericks: Hornets End Losing Spell in Dallas, Take Game 4

The good news for Dallas in Game 4: Jason Terry hit two straight 3-pointers and finished with 12 points to lead the Dallas Mavericks to a 30-23 first quarter lead over the New Orleans Hornets. The bad news: That was as close as Dallas would come to evening its series with the Hornets at 2-2.

Terry and the rest of the Mavericks went cold in the opening minutes of the second quarter and the Hornets went on a 9-0 run with Jannero Pargo in for Chris Paul. The Hornets took a 38-34 lead with Pargo hitting mid-range jump shots. Altogether, the Hornets outscored the Mavericks 17-2 on fast-break points in the period.

With their three leading scorers struggling, Brandon Bass came in to score 12 points off the bench to keep Dallas within four points of the Hornets at halftime 48-44.

They would never get closer.

Dallas failed to hit a field goal until the five-minute mark of the third quarter. Free throws kept the Mavericks within striking distance of the Hornets. They found themselves down 10 at the end of the third quarter, 76-66, shooting only 37 percent compared to the Hornets 49 percent.

The final stanza was all New Orleans. About the only thing of note to happen for Dallas was Jason Kidd being ejected for a flagrant foul against Pargo. That extended the Mavericks’ deficit to 87-70.

Avery Johnson sat on the bench with a long face, contemplating the inevitable as the Hornets were about to break their 14-game losing streak in Dallas. No, he wasn’t contemplating losing the series but more like where he would wind up after Mark Cuban fires him. And make no mistake about it, Cuban will fire him.

The final: 97-84. The Hornets shot 50 percent with six players in double figures. West had 24, Stojakovic 19, Paul 16, Pargo and Julian Wright both had 11, and Morris Peterson 10.

Dallas shot a horrible 36 percent. Nowitzki ended with 22, Jason Terry 20, and Brandon Bass 12. Josh Howard was just 3-for-16 and finished with only 6 points. Howard’s poor performance just killed the Mavericks.

And look for the Hornets to do the same when they take their 3-1 series lead back to New Orleans for Tuesday night’s Game 5.