Nailon scored 13 of his career-high 26 points in the fourth quarter as the Hornets ended a three-game losing streak with a 95-89 victory over the Portland Trail Blazers.
Mashburn went on the injured list on Nov. 19 with an abdominal strain and is expected to be sidelined two months.
|
from Hornets-Blazers: 56k | 300k  Dale Davis and the Blazers tried all night to keep P.J. Brown off the boards. Sam Forencich/NBAE/Getty Images |
"It was unfortunate that Mash wasn't playing," Nailon said. "But I'm glad I got the start, showed the NBA and the world that I can play in this league. I'm really glad we got the win. A lot of teams don't know what I can do. I just like playing with my teammates."
"He is like a rookie right now because he only played sparingly last year," Charlotte coach Paul Silas said. "He has really come on strong. There's no question that he can put the ball in the hoop. But it's the other things that I'm really proud of -- his rebounding and defense. This is a great opportunity for him."
Although Nailon had just nine points in the first half, the Hornets took a 45-38 lead into the locker room.
Charlotte took control in the third quarter, outscoring Portland, 28-18, to build a 73-56 cushion. The turning point occurred with 7:19 left, when the volatile Rasheed Wallace was hit with a technical foul.
After Dale Davis' jumper pulled the Blazers within 53-46, Wallace passed the ball to referee Bill Kennedy. Kennedy thought Wallace was taunting and whistled him for his sixth technical of the season.
David Wesley made a 20-footer, a free throw and converted a turnover into a 3-pointer. After Scottie Pippen threw away the ball, Wesley's layup put the Hornets up 60-46.
The Trail Blazers did not hit another basket until Shawn Kemp's dunk with 1:19 left in the period.
Every time the Blazers tried to get back into it, Nailon had the answer. Among his 13 points in the final 12 minutes were a reverse layup, a 22-foot jumper and a free throw that extended the lead to 88-79 with 2:22 left.
Wesley and backcourt partner Baron Davis both had big games. Wesley had 18 points and Davis had 22 and 12 assists. The Blazers starting backcourt of Damon Stoudamire and Pippen had just 16 points on 4-of-15 shooting.
"I'm very frustrated," Portland forward Ruben Patterson said. "We didn't have any energy. I was real emotional becuase I don't like to lose and I'm upset right now. We're lacking energy and nobody is playing hard."
Wallace led Portland with 18 points but made just 8-of-20 shots as the Blazers were held to 43 percent (33-of-76) shooting.
Although Portland had not played since Saturday's loss to Phoenix, it looked sluggish from the start, matching a season low with 13 points in the second quarter.
Bonzi Wells' jumper began the period, but Portland made just one basket over the next 11 minutes. The Blazers connected on 3-of-16 shots but were still in it because the Hornets clicked at 36 percent (8-of-22) in the quarter.
"We didn't have any energy," said Portland coach Maurice Cheeks. "What was dissapointing to me was we put so much efforts in our practices the last three days, and then to come out with such a lack of energy is hard to explain.
"It was a very slow first half. It looked like Charlotte wasn't ready to play, but we were worse and they started to believe. I still have a strong belief in this team. I like my team, the fact that we still had some fight in the last quarter during that comeback is the only satisfying thing I can take away from the game."