LaMelo Ball recorded 38 points, 13 rebounds, and 13 assists for his 11th career triple-double as the Charlotte Hornets erased a double-digit halftime deficit to defeat the Washington Wizards 139-113 on Sunday at Capital One Arena.
Rookie Kon Knueppel scored 20 points, including 11 during Charlotte’s decisive third-quarter run, while Miles Bridges added 22 and Collin Sexton contributed 20 as the Hornets snapped a five-game losing streak against Washington.
The Hornets shot 67.4 percent in the second half, including 12 of 16 from three-point range. Ball’s 3-pointer to make it 85-82 gave Charlotte the lead for good, and rookie Sion James added consecutive threes to complete a 19-4 run that pushed the margin to seven.
CJ McCollum led Washington with 24 points, and Alex Sarr had 21, scoring 17 in the first half to help the Wizards take a 62-51 halftime lead. Tre Johnson added 18 points in his home debut, while Kyshawn George scored six after posting a career-high 34 in Friday’s win at Dallas.
Charlotte outscored Washington 44-25 in the fourth quarter, turning a close game into a commanding victory. Ball assisted on Bridges’ three-pointer with 7:52 remaining to complete his first triple-double since November 5, 2023.
The Hornets overcame the absence of Brandon Miller, who sat out after leaving Saturday’s loss in Philadelphia with a shoulder injury. Charlotte’s bench contributions, led by Sion James’ 13 second-half points, were critical to the team’s comeback.
Washington briefly extended its lead in the third quarter but could not contain Charlotte’s hot shooting and fast-paced offense. The Wizards struggled to match the Hornets’ efficiency from deep, finishing 10 of 34 from three-point range.
The victory improved Charlotte’s record to 2-1, while Washington fell to 1-2. The Hornets will visit the Miami Heat on Tuesday, and the Wizards return home to face Philadelphia on the same day.
