Nic Claxton scored 16 points and the Brooklyn Nets pulled away after LaMelo Ball was lost to another ankle injury and beat the Charlotte Hornets 97-89 on Monday night.

The Nets beat the Hornets 97-89 after a fourth quarter in which Brooklyn found itself on the wrong end of a 24-12 tally by way of Charlotte. Nic Claxton had one of his better games of the season as he put up 16 points,

LaMelo Ball exited in the first half with right ankle soreness, finishing with just five points on 2-of-5 shooting. Moussa Diabaté, who had a career-high 21 points and 10 rebounds along with two blocks,

Nic Claxton scored 16 points as the Brooklyn Nets took control in the third quarter and earned a 97-89 victory over the Charlotte Hornets Monday night in New York.

Nic Claxton scored 16 points and the Nets​ pulled away after LaMelo Ball was lost to another ankle injury and beat the Hornets 97-89 on Monday night.

When you’re twice as close to the play-in as you are to a top-3 pick, and you’ve won five of six, well, things have changed.