Charlotte Hornets Stun Lakers: LaMelo Ball Shines in Nail-Biter Finish

LaMelo Ball leads the Charlotte Hornets to a thrilling 100-97 victory over the Los Angeles Lakers, overshadowing struggles from LeBron James and Luka Doncic.

In a thrilling post-All-Star break encounter, the Charlotte Hornets pulled off a stunning 100-97 upset against the Los Angeles Lakers, thanks to a clutch performance by LaMelo Ball. The game, rescheduled due to the recent wildfires in Los Angeles, marked the Lakers' third loss in their last five games.

Key Performances

  • LaMelo Ball: The young star scored 27 points, including a crucial lay-up and two free throws in the final 15 seconds to seal the victory.
  • Miles Bridges: Led the Hornets with a game-high 29 points, showcasing his growing importance to the team.
  • LeBron James: Despite a strong fourth quarter with 16 points, James missed two key three-point attempts that could have tied the game.
  • Luka Doncic: Struggled to find his rhythm, finishing with 14 points and 11 assists in his third game since joining the Lakers.

Game Analysis

The Hornets, who have been struggling this season with only their second win in 11 games, showed resilience and determination. Their defense held firm in the final minutes, preventing the Lakers from capitalizing on their star power. The Lakers, now on a two-game losing streak, will need to regroup quickly if they hope to maintain their position in the competitive Western Conference.

Stat Lines

Player Points Assists Rebounds
Miles Bridges 29 4 7
LaMelo Ball 27 6 5
LeBron James 26 8 9
Luka Doncic 14 11 6

What's Next?

The Hornets will look to build on this momentum as they face the Miami Heat next, while the Lakers aim to bounce back against the Golden State Warriors. Both teams have critical games ahead as the playoff race heats up.

What to Read Next

Stephen Curry's Injury Overshadows Warriors' Victory as Pacers Stun Cavaliers in NBA Playoffs
NBA

Stephen Curry's Injury Overshadows Warriors' Victory as Pacers Stun Cavaliers in NBA Playoffs

Stephen Curry's hamstring injury casts a shadow over the Warriors' win, while the Pacers stun the Cavaliers with a game-winning three-pointer by Tyrese Haliburton.

Denver Nuggets Dominate Clippers to Advance to Western Conference Semi-Finals
NBA

Denver Nuggets Dominate Clippers to Advance to Western Conference Semi-Finals

The Denver Nuggets secured a decisive victory over the Los Angeles Clippers, advancing to the Western Conference semi-finals with a stellar team performance.

Orlando Magic Triumph Over Boston Celtics in Thrilling NBA Playoff Clash
NBA

Orlando Magic Triumph Over Boston Celtics in Thrilling NBA Playoff Clash

The Orlando Magic secured a narrow victory against the Boston Celtics, with Franz Wagner leading the charge in a crucial playoff game.

Stephen Curry's Stellar Performance Propels Warriors to Victory Over Rockets in NBA Playoffs
NBA

Stephen Curry's Stellar Performance Propels Warriors to Victory Over Rockets in NBA Playoffs

Stephen Curry leads the Golden State Warriors to a commanding 95-85 win against the Houston Rockets in the NBA playoffs opener.

Clippers and Timberwolves Triumph: Securing Their NBA Play-Off Spots in Thrilling Season Finale
NBA

Clippers and Timberwolves Triumph: Securing Their NBA Play-Off Spots in Thrilling Season Finale

The LA Clippers and Minnesota Timberwolves clinched their NBA play-off spots with dramatic wins on the final day of the regular season, setting up exciting matchups.

Gregg Popovich Ends Historic 29-Year Tenure as Spurs Head Coach, Transitions to New Role
NBA

Gregg Popovich Ends Historic 29-Year Tenure as Spurs Head Coach, Transitions to New Role

Gregg Popovich steps down as head coach of the San Antonio Spurs after 29 seasons, transitioning to president of basketball operations.

Cleveland Cavaliers Dominate Miami Heat in Historic 4-0 Playoff Sweep
NBA

Cleveland Cavaliers Dominate Miami Heat in Historic 4-0 Playoff Sweep

The Cleveland Cavaliers secured a decisive 4-0 series victory over the Miami Heat, marking one of the largest margins in NBA playoff history.

Kawhi Leonard's Stellar Performance Leads Clippers to Victory Over Nuggets in NBA Playoffs
NBA

Kawhi Leonard's Stellar Performance Leads Clippers to Victory Over Nuggets in NBA Playoffs

Kawhi Leonard scores 39 points as the Los Angeles Clippers edge out the Denver Nuggets in a thrilling NBA playoff game.

Thrilling NBA Semi-Final Openers: Knicks Stun Celtics, Nuggets Edge Thunder
NBA

Thrilling NBA Semi-Final Openers: Knicks Stun Celtics, Nuggets Edge Thunder

The NBA semi-finals kicked off with dramatic comebacks as the Knicks stunned the Celtics in overtime and the Nuggets edged the Thunder in a nail-biter.

Lakers' Playoff Struggles Continue: Timberwolves Dominate in Western Conference Opener
NBA

Lakers' Playoff Struggles Continue: Timberwolves Dominate in Western Conference Opener

The Los Angeles Lakers faced a tough defeat against the Minnesota Timberwolves in the first game of the NBA Western Conference playoffs.

Houston Rockets Defeat Golden State Warriors in Thrilling Game Six, Force Decisive Game Seven
NBA

Houston Rockets Defeat Golden State Warriors in Thrilling Game Six, Force Decisive Game Seven

The Houston Rockets triumphed over the Golden State Warriors in a nail-biting Game Six, leveling the series and setting up a decisive Game Seven showdown.

Boston Celtics Secure Crucial Victory Over New York Knicks in Game 3 of NBA Playoffs
NBA

Boston Celtics Secure Crucial Victory Over New York Knicks in Game 3 of NBA Playoffs

The Boston Celtics dominated the New York Knicks in Game 3, cutting the series deficit to 2-1 with a stellar performance led by Jayson Tatum and Payton Pritchard.

Jalen Brunson's Heroics Propel Knicks to Eastern Conference Semi-Finals Against Celtics
NBA

Jalen Brunson's Heroics Propel Knicks to Eastern Conference Semi-Finals Against Celtics

Jalen Brunson's 40-point performance leads the Knicks to a thrilling victory over the Pistons, setting up a semi-final clash with the Celtics.

Miami Heat Triumphs Over Chicago Bulls, Advances to Face Atlanta Hawks in NBA Play-In Tournament
NBA

Miami Heat Triumphs Over Chicago Bulls, Advances to Face Atlanta Hawks in NBA Play-In Tournament

Miami Heat secures a decisive victory against Chicago Bulls in the NBA play-in tournament, setting up a crucial game against Atlanta Hawks.

Luka Doncic and Lakers Dominate NBA Jersey and Merchandise Sales in 2025
NBA

Luka Doncic and Lakers Dominate NBA Jersey and Merchandise Sales in 2025

Luka Doncic leads NBA jersey sales, marking a historic moment as the first non-American to top the list, while the Lakers dominate team merchandise.

Load More

We use essential cookies to make our site work. With your consent, we may also use non-essential cookies to improve user experience and analyze website traffic. By clicking "Accept," you agree to our website's cookie use as described in our Cookie Policy.