The Charlotte Hornets were desperate to break free from the losing column , and Tidjane Salaun rose as the unlikely hero by erupting for a career-high that completely reshaped the night. The forward powered the Hornets’ 111-86 win over the Toronto Raptors , lifting Charlotte to 7-16 and snapping a stretch where they had won only three of their last ten. Salaun came off the bench and poured in 21 points on 6-of-8 shooting, including 5-of-6 from deep, adding three rebounds and a +18 in 22 minutes. For someone averaging 6.6 points this season, the leap felt loud.

Tidjane Salaun said the performance started with belief. “It’s just about confidence,” he explained. “When I’m confident, I feel like I can be the best player, but that’s also because my teammates trust me and we have this gre

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