The Charlotte Hornets stunned the Los Angeles Lakers with a 100-97 victory on Wednesday night, fueled by a combined 56 points from Miles Bridges and LaMelo Ball. The win snapped Charlotte’s recent struggles and ended Los Angeles’ seven-game home winning streak.
Bridges led the way with 29 points, while Ball added 27, including a clutch layup in the final seconds to secure the upset. Nick Smith Jr. also played a key role, hitting a go-ahead three-pointer with 48 seconds remaining.
LeBron James finished with 26 points, scoring 16 in the fourth quarter, but missed two potential game-tying three-pointers in the closing moments. Luka Doncic had a rough shooting night, going 5-for-18 from the field, but contributed 14 points, 11 rebounds, and eight assists.
The Lakers, who were coming off a loss to Utah before the All-Star break, struggled to put the Hornets away. They built a 65-53 lead late in the third quarter before Charlotte responded with a stunning 22-1 run.
Austin Reaves was ejected after a brief exchange with referee Rodney Mott late in the third, and the Hornets took full advantage, shifting the momentum in their favor.
Charlotte’s defense held the Lakers to just 41.1% shooting from the field and 29.4% from three-point range. Doncic, in his third game since joining Los Angeles, struggled from deep, making just one of his nine three-point attempts.
Rui Hachimura had a chance to shift the game late but missed two critical free throws after Smith’s clutch three-pointer. Ball then capitalized with a finger-roll layup, extending the Hornets’ lead.
James answered with a three-pointer to cut the deficit to one, but Ball sealed the game at the line. The Lakers had one last opportunity, but James’ final shot attempt fell short.
Mark Williams, playing in his first game since the Lakers rescinded their trade for him, contributed 10 points and nine rebounds. Charlotte snapped a 10-game losing streak, improving to 14-39 on the season.
Los Angeles, now 32-21, faces growing concerns after dropping games to two of the NBA’s worst teams. With the playoff race tightening in the Western Conference, they will need to regroup quickly to avoid slipping in the standings.
