There are regular sports weekends—and then there are the rare ones that feel like something special. The kind that has fans shouting at their TVs and sports bars packed with strangers turned friends. For North Carolina sports fans, one of those weekends just happened.
The Charlotte Hornets and Carolina Panthers each pulled off major wins over opponents from Dallas. The Hornets topped the Dallas Mavericks in preseason play, while the Panthers held off the Dallas Cowboys in a nail-biter. For fans across the Carolinas, it was a weekend of energy, celebration and pure sports magic.
Hornets swarm Mavericks in preseason win
The Mavericks entered the contest as clear favorites, listed at minus-260 and 6.5-point favorites on the spread. Oddsmakers expected a high-scoring game with the total set at 226.5.
The Hornets not only covered—they controlled the pace from the start. Charlotte opened the game on a 30-13 run, hitting six of their first eight 3-pointers to stun Dallas. From there, the Mavericks never fully recovered.
Forward Miles Bridges set the tone offensively by attacking mismatches and punishing smaller defenders. Charlotte controlled the glass, out-rebounding Dallas 54-37, and shot 41% from beyond the arc. The Mavericks struggled with defensive communication and looked out of sync for much of the night.
Forward Cooper Flagg led Dallas with 11 points, four assists, three rebounds and three steals, though he also committed five turnovers. His matchup with former Duke University teammates on the Hornets added extra intrigue.
Those Duke ties showed in Charlotte’s defensive focus, as strong help rotations and on-ball pressure disrupted the Mavericks’ rhythm.
Dallas made a late push, but the Hornets held strong for a 120-116 win. It may have been just preseason, but for a young Charlotte team still trying to find its identity, the performance carried weight.
Rookie forward Kon Knueppel added 12 points, four rebounds, an assist and a steal in 22 minutes, providing energy and versatility on both ends.
Flagg, his former college roommate, praised him after the game. He said the “No. 4 pick is a big deal” and added that Knueppel is “in a great spot.” Their close bond and mutual respect remain clear as both continue to develop in the NBA.
If the Hornets sparked excitement on the court, the Panthers took it a step further on the field. The Dallas Cowboys—often dubbed ‘America’s Team’—faced a Carolina squad that was hungry, disciplined and determined.
Late drive lifts Panthers over Cowboys
The Panthers earned a hard-fought 30-27 victory over Dallas at Bank of America Stadium, improving to 3-3 on the season. It marks the first time Carolina has been at .500 this late in the year since 2021, when the team was 5-5 after former Panthers quarterback Cam Newton’s “I’m back” game against the Arizona Cardinals before losing seven straight to close the season.
Third-year quarterback Bryce Young rebounded from an early interception to complete 17 of 25 passes for 199 yards and three touchdowns, posting a 114.8 passer rating. He engineered his eighth career—and second consecutive—game-winning drive, leading the Panthers 71 yards on 15 plays in just over six minutes.
Rookie kicker Ryan Fitzgerald capped it with a 33-yard field goal to seal the win.
Running back Rico Dowdle, facing his former team, delivered a franchise-record performance with 239 scrimmage yards—183 rushing on 30 carries and 56 receiving on four catches, including a 36-yard touchdown.
Dowdle has totaled 473 scrimmage yards over the last two games, the most in Panthers history.
Carolina’s defense allowed just one rushing first down and held Dallas to 1.6 yards per carry while constantly pressuring quarterback Dak Prescott and disrupting the Cowboys’ passing rhythm. Wide receiver George Pickens challenged the secondary with nine catches for 121 yards and a touchdown, but the Panthers held firm when it mattered.
Panthers Head Coach Dave Canales said the win was about more than talent—it showed a team discovering its identity and building a culture fans can rally behind, marking the start of a new chapter for Carolina sports.
Up next
The Panthers will face the New York Jets on Oct. 19 at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, N.J., looking to climb above .500 for the first time this season. The Hornets continue preseason play on Oct. 15 at the First Horizon Coliseum in Greensboro, N.C., against the Memphis Grizzlies.