Cured Curry Makes Sonics Ill Hornets Use 3-Pointers To Run Past Slumping Seattle, 112-99

Charlotte sharpshooter Dell Curry, who finally won recognition as the NBA’s best man off the bench last season, has struggled with his shot a bit this year.

When the flu bug got him, things got even worse. Over a recent fourgame stretch, Curry was averaging less than four points a game, far below his career average.

Curry turned it around in the most unlikely of places - on a six-game West Coast trip that ended on Sunday. In those games, he averaged 15 points and connected on 17 of 35 3-point attempts.

Returning home Thursday night for a matchup with the Seattle SuperSonics, Curry proved he still has the touch. He connected on three pivotal 3-pointers in the final four minutes to lead the Hornets to a 112-99 victory.

“Those 3-pointers really gave us the game,” said Charlotte coach Allan Bristow. “They came at a crucial time and they really lifted us. And it was too late for them to catch up.”

Curry refused to take too much credit.

“They were so worried about Alonzo (Mourning) and Larry (Johnson) that they gave me some shots,” he said. “They can’t cover everyone.”

Seattle coach George Karl begged to differ.

“Dell Curry’s threes did it for them,” he said. “I’ve seem him do this before because he has great confidence and a quick release.”

Mourning scored 35 points to go along with Curry’s 22 as the Hornets, who ended the game with a 20-9 run, posted their first home victory over Seattle in more than two years.

The Sonics lost for the fourth time in six games.

Charlotte was protecting a 92-90 lead with 4:25 left when Muggsy Bogues hit a jumper from the corner and Curry followed with a 3-pointer to give the Hornets a seven-point lead.

After Shawn Kemp hit two free throws, Mourning scored and Curry connected on his fifth and sixth treys of the night to give the Hornets a 105-94 lead with 2:00 to play.

Mourning also grabbed 13 rebounds. Curry’s point total included 18 on his 6-of-12 shooting from outside the 3-point line. Larry Johnson added 21 points and eight assists for the Hornets.

Seattle was led by Kendall Gill with 23 points and 11 rebounds. Gary Payton and Detlef Schrempf each scored 20 for the Sonics.

Seattle erased a 13-point Charlotte lead and went ahead for the first time since the early minutes of the game on Gill’s dunk to make it 71-70 with 4:21 left in the third quarter.

After that, neither team was able to take control of the game and the lead changed hands several times until Curry took over.

Hornets 112, SuperSonics 99

FG FT Reb SEATTLE Min M-A M-A O-T A PF Pts McMillan 14 1-3 0-0 0-2 2 2 2 Schrempf 41 6-9 5-5 0-2 1 5 20 Kemp 28 5-13 5-5 2-8 4 4 15 Gill 35 10-18 2-3 6-11 5 2 23 Payton 44 9-18 2-3 3-4 5 3 20 Cartwright 22 3-3 0-0 2-4 1 5 6 Askew 17 1-4 0-0 0-2 1 3 2 Perkins 27 2-9 0-0 1-4 3 2 4 Marciulionis 11 2-5 2-2 0-1 0 2 7 E.Johnson 1 0-0 0-0 0-0 0 1 0 Totals 240 39-82 16-18 14-38 22 29 99

Percentages: FG .476, FT .889.

3-Point Goals: 5-22, .227 (Schrempf 3-5, Gill 1-4, Marciulionis 1-4, Payton 0-2, Askew 0-2, Perkins 0-5). Team Rebounds: 5. Blocked shots: 5 (Kemp 4, Askew). Turnovers: 13 (Payton 3, McMillan 2, Kemp 2, Gill 2, Marciulionis 2, Cartwright, Askew). Steals: 6 (Kemp 2, Gill 2, Perkins, Marciulionis). Technical foul: Askew, 6:52 4th. Illegal defense: 1.

FG FT Reb CHARLOTTE Min M-A M-A O-T A PF Pts L.Johnson 41 9-17 3-4 1-6 8 3 21 Wolf 17 2-2 0-0 1-3 1 3 4 Mourning 44 12-20 11-13 9-13 1 3 35 Bogues 42 4-9 6-7 1-5 11 1 14 Hawkins 34 2-8 2-3 2-4 3 1 7 Curry 34 8-16 0-0 0-3 7 5 22 Parish 16 3-4 0-0 0-2 2 1 6 Sutton 6 0-2 0-2 0-2 1 0 0 Wingate 6 1-1 0-0 0-0 1 1 3 Totals 240 41-79 22-29 14-38 35 18 112

Percentages: FG .519. FT .759.

3-Point Goals: 8-24, .333 (Curry 6-12, Wingate 1-1, Hawkins 1-4, Mourning 0-1, Sutton 0-2, L.Johnson 0-4). Team Rebounds: 9. Blocked shots: 8 (Mourning 6, Hawkins, Curry). Turnovers: 13 (L.Johnson 4, Hawkins 4, Mourning 3, Wolf, Curry). Steals: 5 (Bogues 2, Hawkins, Sutton, Wingate). Technical foul: Bogues, 8:53 1st. Illegal defense: 1. Seattle 30 19 32 18 - 99 Charlotte 25 35 20 32 - 112

A-23,698 (23,698). T-2:09.

Officials-Hugh Evans, Ronnie Nunn, Mike Smith.