Coast-to-coast: Hornets stay hot; Dominick Barlow’s career game keeps Sixers rolling

Can you smell what the Charlotte Hornets are cooking?

A seven-game winning streak — their first since 2016 — has the red-hot Hornets creeping into the East play-in picture.

HORNETS STAY HUMMING; SIXERS, ROCKETS CONTINUE WINNING WAYS

• Charlotte Hornets (23-28) def. New Orleans Pelicans (13-39), 102-95: For the first time in a decade, the Hornets strung together seven-straight wins after beating the Pelicans.

LaMelo Ball led the way with 24 points, eight rebounds and five assists as Charlotte moved within one win of a spot in the Eastern Conference play-in picture.

• Philadelphia 76ers (28-21) def. LA Clippers (23-26), 128-113: Dominick Barlow scored a career-high 26 points on top of 16 rebounds, lifting the Sixers to their fourth successive win in toppling the Clippers. 

Tyrese Maxey fired 29 points while Joel Embiid added 24 points as Philadelphia completed a regular-season sweep of the LA for the first time in three years.  

• Houston Rockets (31-17) def. Indiana Pacers (13-37), 118-114: Without Kevin Durant, the Rockets relied on Alperen Sengün’s solid 39-point, 16-rebound double-double to hold off the Pacers for their third consecutive win.

[RELATED: Alperen Sengün tows KD-less Rockets to third-straight win after NBA All-Star 'snub']

• Memphis Grizzlies (19-29) def. Minnesota Timberwolves (31-20), 137-128: Jaren Jackson Jr. scored 30 points to lead a balanced Grizzlies attack, snapping a six-game losing streak with a win over the Anthony Edwards-led Timberwolves.

[RELATED: Balanced Grizzlies cool off Timberwolves to halt six-game skid]

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Pao Ambat earned his journalism degree from Cavite State University in 2022.

Passionate about sports from a young age, he primarily covers the NBA for One Sports, while also assisting in reporting on the PVL, PBA, UAAP, and other leagues.