Ball’s Brilliance Powers Hornets to Victory as Lakers Struggle Offensively
The Charlotte Hornets pulled off a major upset in the NBA on Wednesday night, defeating the Los Angeles Lakers 100-97 at Crypto.com Arena. LaMelo Ball was the driving force behind the Hornets’ unexpected triumph, scoring 27 points and delivering a second-half comeback that left the Lakers stunned.
This win marks only the fifth road victory of the season for the Hornets, who have struggled throughout the campaign. Miles Bridges led Charlotte in scoring with 29 points, while Seth Curry and Nick Smith Jr. also played key roles in the comeback.
The Lakers, featuring both LeBron James and Luka Doncic, seemed on course for a routine win after building a 13-point lead late in the third quarter. However, a 17-1 run by the Hornets, combined with the ejection of Lakers shooting guard Austin Reaves, changed the momentum of the game.
Hornets Turn the Game Around in the Third Quarter
The Lakers controlled much of the game early on, playing solid basketball and capitalizing on Charlotte’s early struggles. LeBron James, who finished with 26 points, 11 assists, and seven rebounds, led the charge, while Luka Doncic contributed 14 points, 11 rebounds, and eight assists.
At one point, Los Angeles held a 65-52 lead, and it appeared they were in control. However, the Hornets refused to back down. Ball ignited the offense with deep three-pointers, and Seth Curry drained a 26-foot shot to cap a 17-1 run, putting the Hornets ahead 69-66 heading into the fourth quarter.
The Lakers, caught off guard by Charlotte’s sudden scoring burst, struggled to regain their rhythm.
Ball and Bridges Take Over in the Fourth Quarter
The momentum remained with the Hornets in the fourth quarter, as Ball continued his hot shooting streak, sinking two deep three-pointers that extended their lead to 75-66.
The Lakers fought back, with LeBron James hitting a running layup to put Los Angeles ahead 78-77, but the Hornets stayed composed.
Bridges and Ball brought it out of the break!
Bridges: 29 PTS | 6 REB | 5 STL | 5 3PM
Ball: 27 PTS | 5 REB | 6 AST | 5 3PMHornets close out the close one in Los Angeles pic.twitter.com/qqhUbStyYV
— NBA (@NBA) February 20, 2025
Miles Bridges drilled a 30-foot three-pointer to push Charlotte ahead 93-90 with under two minutes remaining. The Lakers responded with a Doncic layup, momentarily reclaiming the lead, but Nick Smith Jr. countered with a clutch three-pointer to put Charlotte back in front.
LaMelo Ball sealed the game, hitting four free throws in the final moments, while James missed two three-point attempts that could have forced overtime.
Lakers Struggle Offensively Despite Competitive Spirit
After the game, Lakers head coach J.J. Redick acknowledged his team’s offensive struggles, particularly in the second half.
“I think we played 39 to 44 minutes of pretty poor offense,” Redick admitted. “Some of that’s to be expected, some of it was sloppiness and poor execution.”
The Lakers were returning from the mid-season NBA All-Star break, and Redick believes the break disrupted the team’s flow, making it difficult to execute plays smoothly.
“Our competitive spirit was good enough to win, but we were just really poor offensively for 90 percent of the game,” he added.
Austin Reaves’ Ejection Adds to Lakers’ Woes
Another turning point in the game came when Lakers shooting guard Austin Reaves was ejected in the second half. Reaves, known for his defensive intensity and perimeter shooting, was forced to exit, leaving the Lakers shorthanded in the backcourt.
Redick noted that while Reaves’ ejection hurt the team, the bigger issue was their offensive inconsistency.
What’s Next for the Hornets and Lakers?
The Hornets will look to build on this momentum as they continue their challenging season. Despite their struggles in the standings, performances like this show that Charlotte has the ability to compete with top teams when firing on all cylinders.
For the Lakers, this loss leaves them with a 32-21 record, placing them fifth in the Western Conference. With the playoff race heating up, LeBron James, Luka Doncic, and the rest of the squad will need to regroup quickly and bounce back in their next fixtures.
With LaMelo Ball leading the charge, the Hornets proved they can rise to the occasion, while the Lakers must address their offensive concerns if they hope to stay competitive in the West.
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