CHARLOTTE, N.C. _ Jamal Murray hit a pull-up corner jump shot from 13 feet with 5 seconds remaining for the winning points in the Denver Nuggets' 114-112 victory over the Charlotte Hornets Thursday at the Spectrum Center.
Hornets guard Terry Rozier got off a 3-pointer on the game's final possession, but it bounced off the rim as time expired. Rozier stumbled with the ball that final possession, slowing his attack on Denver's defense.
Devonte Graham, back from a game missed with a sore left ankle, led the Hornets in scoring with 24 points (plus seven assists). Rozier added 19 points, making five of his nine attempts from 3-point range.
The Nuggets got 14 points, 11 rebounds and eight assists from center Nikola Jokic.
The Hornets started the season hot from 3-point range, but that tailed off through the winter. Thursday, they started this game making five of their first eight 3s. Rozier, the primary veteran acquisition last summer, has shot a career-best 39% from 3.
With four 3s in the first three quarters Thursday, Rozier set his career record with 157 3s made this season.
Live-ball turnovers _ when losing the ball doesn't result in a stoppage of play _ has been a focus for Hornets coach James Borrego. The Nuggets had five first-half steals and scored 11 points off nine Hornets turnovers. As small as the Hornets' margin for error is this season, being outrebounded and committing more turnovers makes it extremely hard to be competitive.
