CHARLOTTE, N.C. _ There was a palpable buzz around the Spectrum Center on Friday, and understandably so.
What with coach Steve Clifford being back in the building (after the team announced late Thursday that he would end his leave from the team next Tuesday), it made sense the team was optimistic going into Friday's matchup with the Utah Jazz.
Then when team owner Michael Jordan showed for the game and sat courtside, there was only more excitement in the building _ and for once the Hornets capitalized on it, withstanding a big night from Donovan Mitchell to win, 99-88.
Neither team was ever able to mount much of a lead, but rather watched as Kemba Walker and Mitchell exchanged baskets for the majority of the night.
But with less than five minutes to go in the game, the Hornets found a second wind (courtesy of a Michael Kidd-Gilchrist steal and dunk) to take a slight edge. They then turned up the defensive intensity, finally making life difficult for Mitchell, and pulled away as the Jazz offense sputtered.
Walker scored a team-high 22 points for the Hornets, who received 16 points from Frank Kaminsky, 15 points from Marvin Williams and eight points and 13 rebounds from Dwight Howard.
Mitchell finished with 35 points for the Jazz.
