Los Angeles – LaMelo Ball delivered a dominant second-half performance, scoring 27 of his 30 points after halftime and tying his career high with nine 3-pointers as the Charlotte Hornets defeated the Los Angeles Lakers 135–117 on Thursday night.
Ball added 11 assists and six rebounds, hitting eight 3-pointers in the second half alone. Playing in the Los Angeles area, Ball celebrated each long-range make while silencing the home crowd as Charlotte pulled away late.
Hornets’ Young Core Powers Another Statement Win
Brandon Miller scored 26 points for Charlotte, while Miles Bridges added 25. Rookie Kon Knueppel contributed 19 points as the Hornets showcased depth and scoring balance throughout the night.
The win continued a strong stretch for Charlotte, which recently stunned the NBA-leading Oklahoma City Thunder with a 27-point road victory. With this result, the Hornets improved to 2–1 on their five-game West Coast road trip.
Lakers’ Stars Score, But Defense Falters
Luka Doncic led all scorers with 39 points for Los Angeles, knocking down six 3-pointers. LeBron James added 29 points and nine rebounds, but the Lakers were unable to keep pace defensively.
Despite a strong start, Los Angeles allowed Charlotte to score 105 points over the final three quarters. The Hornets built a 15-point lead in the third quarter and never allowed the Lakers to mount a serious comeback.
Strong Start Fades for Los Angeles
Doncic scored 19 points in the first quarter and hit three early 3-pointers as the Lakers carried momentum from a 140-point performance earlier in the week. That offensive rhythm quickly disappeared as Charlotte took control in the second quarter.
Jake LaRavia scored 18 points for the Lakers, but the bench struggled mightily, producing just nine total points on 4-of-19 shooting.
Hornets Capitalize as Lakers Continue Slide
The loss marked the Lakers’ fourth defeat in five games, including recent losses to Sacramento and Charlotte. Improved focus shown earlier in the week failed to carry over as defensive breakdowns allowed the Hornets to run away late.
Charlotte’s combination of perimeter shooting, ball movement, and defensive pressure proved too much as the Hornets closed the game with confidence on the road.