Miles Bridges scored 45 points as the Toronto Raptors beat the Charlotte Hornets.

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — RJ Barrett scored 23 points, Jacob Poeltl had two big plays in the final 90 seconds and the Toronto Raptors beat the Hornets 123-117 in Charlotte, scoring a career-high 45 points from Miles Bridges in the ninth. straight loss on wednesday night.

Scotty Barnes, who knew before the game that he would be playing as an alternate in his first All-Star Game, finished with 18 points for the Raptors. Immanuel Quickley also scored 18, while Poeltl had 12 points and 12 rebounds.

The Raptors (18-33) finished the six-game stretch with a 2-4 record.

“It was the little things — one of two games, if we get one touchdown, we're going to win,” Barrett said. “Otherwise, if I just catch the ball, we win. Little things like that. “We've played tough games in four of the six games, so we're just now realizing that every little thing in the game is important.”

Bridges had a highly efficient shooting night, making 17 of 27 points against the Los Angeles Lakers on Monday night, including 6 of 10 from beyond the arc, to match his previous career high of 41 points. He also had eight rebounds and seven assists.

Bridges is just the fourth Charlotte player to record 40-point games, joining Glenn Rice (twice), Kemba Walker and Terry Rozier.

Now, Bridges, who has been the subject of trade rumors, awaits word on whether or not he will play his final game for the Hornets. The NBA trade deadline is Thursday afternoon.

“I can only control what I can control,” Bridges said.

Bridges reiterated his desire to stay in Charlotte, saying, “My answer will not change. I want to be here. I was called here and they were with me at my worst, so I want to be here.”

In November 2022, Bridges pleaded not guilty to one felony charge of injuring the child's parents. Bridges has a court date later this month in Charlotte to answer charges of violating a domestic violence protection order, child molestation and criminal damage to personal property.

Hornets coach Steve Clifford would not comment on the team's plans, but praised Bridges for his efforts throughout the season, calling him “awesome.”

“Listen, this guy played 38 or 39 minutes every night,” Clifford said. “He plays the first quarter, the third quarter, and he never asks to come out. He plays every dribble and there are few guys who can do what he does.”

Brandon Miller scored 20 points for Charlotte, which has lost eight straight at home.

The Hornets led 36-29 after the first quarter, behind 15 points from Bridge, who went 5-of-5 from the field, including three 3-pointers. Bridges was even better in the third quarter with 21 points on 9-of-10 shooting to help the Hornets take a 97-91 lead into the final quarter.

But Toronto would eventually fight back on a drive by Quickley, whose Barrett 3 from the corner made it 118-115 with two minutes left.

Poeltl, the Raptors' 7-foot-1 center from Austria, then came up with big plays on both ends of the court, sending Quickley to make it a two-possession game and closing the bridges with a lane on the other end of the game. court to return the ball to his team.

“Jakob was in control the last few possessions, blocking shots, protecting the rim and securing rebounds,” Raptors coach Darko Rajakovic said.

The Raptors made 17 of their 33-point attempts, with Barrett and Gary Trent Jr. combining for four.

NEXT

Raptors: Host the Rockets on Friday night.

Hornets: Visit the Bucks on Friday night.

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