Printable Page
01/15 23:58 CST LaMelo Ball hits 9 3-pointers to lead Hornets to surprising
135-117 win over Luka's Lakers
LaMelo Ball hits 9 3-pointers to lead Hornets to surprising 135-117 win over
Luka's Lakers
By GREG BEACHAM
AP Sports Writer
LOS ANGELES (AP) --- LaMelo Ball scored 27 of his 30 points in the second half
while tying his career high with nine 3-pointers, and the Charlotte Hornets
overcame Luka Doncic's 39 points for a 135-117 victory over the Los Angeles
Lakers on Thursday night.
Ball had 11 assists and six rebounds, and he hit eight 3-pointers in the second
half alone, gleefully celebrating each one while quieting the home crowd in his
native Los Angeles area.
Brandon Miller also scored 26 points for the Hornets, while Miles Bridges added
25 and rookie Kon Knueppel had 19.
Ten days after the sub-.500 Hornets shocked the NBA-leading Oklahoma City
Thunder with a 27-point road victory, Charlotte showed another taste of its
considerable promise. The Hornets improved to 2-1 on their five-game West Coast
trip by running away from Doncic and LeBron James, who had 29 points and nine
rebounds.
Doncic hit six 3-pointers in the slumping Lakers' fourth defeat in five games,
including embarrassing losses to Sacramento and Charlotte in the past four
days. Los Angeles' improved focus in a victory over Atlanta on Tuesday had
vanished, with the Hornets scoring 105 points in the final three quarters.
Doncic hit three 3-pointers and scored 19 points in the first quarter while the
Lakers maintained their offensive excellence from their 140-point performance
against Hawks. But Charlotte surged ahead in the second quarter and pushed its
lead to 15 points in the third, and the Lakers never seriously threatened a
comeback.
Jake LaRavia scored 18 points for Los Angeles, which got just nine points from
its reserves on combined 4-for-19 shooting.
Up next Hornets: At Golden State on Saturday. Lakers: At Portland on Saturday. ___ AP NBA: https://apnews.com/NBA |
