LaMelo Ball powered the Charlotte Hornets to a surprising 115-98 victory over the New York Knicks on Thursday night, delivering 25 points and eight assists.
Charlotte (18-51) controlled the game from the first quarter and never looked back, leading by as many as 19 points. The Hornets snapped a two-game losing streak.
Mark Williams dominated inside with 19 points and 14 rebounds, while Miles Bridges added 15 points and 10 boards. DaQuan Jeffries and Nick Smith Jr. also scored in double figures as Charlotte won for the fourth time in seven games.
The Knicks (43-26) struggled to find consistency, dropping their third game in four outings. O.G. Anunoby led New York with 25 points, while Karl-Anthony Towns posted 24 points and 10 rebounds.
Charlotte shot 48.9% from the field and hit 15 of 32 three-pointers, with Ball converting five from beyond the arc. Jeffries contributed three triples, helping the Hornets capitalize on their perimeter shooting.
The Knicks, missing Jalen Brunson and Mitchell Robinson, could not overcome their shooting struggles, hitting just 25.6% from deep. The loss drops them to third in the Eastern Conference as they fight to maintain their playoff positioning.
