The Charlotte Hornets pulled off a surprising 100-97 victory over the Los Angeles Lakers in a thrilling matchup on Wednesday night. Miles Bridges led the Hornets with 29 points, while LaMelo Ball contributed 27 points to secure the win.
Despite a late surge by LeBron James, who scored 26 points with 16 coming in the fourth quarter, the Lakers fell short as James missed two crucial 3-point attempts at the buzzer. Luka Doncic, playing his third game for the Lakers, added 14 points, 11 rebounds, and eight assists.
The Hornets staged an impressive comeback after trailing 65-53 in the third quarter, going on a 22-1 run that saw the Lakers miss 10 consecutive shots during a critical stretch of the game.
Key moments in the game included Nick Smith Jr.'s go-ahead 3-pointer with 48 seconds remaining, followed by Ball's clutch layup and free throws to secure the Hornets' victory. Mark Williams, making his debut for the Lakers after a trade that was later rescinded, contributed 10 points and nine rebounds.
Notable highlights from the game included the end of the Lakers' seven-game home winning streak and Austin Reaves' ejection in the third quarter, which coincided with a significant run by the Hornets.
Despite Doncic's efforts, shooting 5 of 18 from the field and 1 for 9 on 3-pointers, the Lakers were unable to overcome the Hornets' resilient performance.
Looking ahead, both teams have quick turnarounds with games scheduled for Thursday night. The Hornets will face the Denver Nuggets, while the Lakers will take on the Portland Trail Blazers in their next matchups.
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