LaMelo Ball Leads Hornets in Comeback Win

LaMelo Ball had a team high 31 points, hitting seven out of nine from 3-point range and the Charlotte Hornets went on an extended run in the third quarter, 24-0, to fight back and defeat the Indiana Pacers 123-122 on Wednesday night.

Ball also contributed nine rebounds and seven assists, while Gordon Hayward had a great night of his own, scoring 27 points in his return from health and safety protocols.

The Hornets came out flat on both ends of the floor. The Pacers scored the first six points of the game before Ball opened up the scoring with a 3-point shot off the dribble. The Hornets had a hard time stopping Domantas Sabonis in the low post and he made his first seven shots from the field as the Pacers built an early first quarter lead. First year player Chris Duarte added 11 first quarter points as well. On the offensive side of the floor, Ish Smith came in off the bench and finished the quarter with eight straight Hornet points to keep the game from getting away.

Ball took over the scoring load in the early going of the second quarter. He connected on three second quarter shots from downtown but the Pacers were able to extend their lead. They led by 16 points going into the locker room, 75-59.

The Hornets started off the third quarter cold with an offensive possession that contained four shot attempts
but no points. The Pacers went down on the other end of the court and were able to score on a Myles Turner baby hook shot. The Pacers led by as many as 23 after a Duarte three, but a 13-2 run by the Hornets got them right back in the ballgame. Miles Bridges was the leader of that run, hitting on two free throws from the charity strike, a step back 3-point shot and a takeaway that led to a Ball slam on the fast break.

The Pacers called a time out to try to stop the bleeding, but the Hornets had other ideas. Ball scored seven straight out of the time out and then found center Mason Plumlee for an alley oop. The run expanded all the way out to 28-2 before a TJ McConnell’s layup temporarily put a hush over the fans. The Hornets took a lead into the final quarter by four points, 92-88.

The Hornets continued to dominate the Pacers through the early stages of the fourth quarter. They led by as many as ten before the one-two punch of Sabonis and Malcolm Brogdon woke up and joined the party. The duo outscored the Hornets 14-3 in two-and-a-half minutes to retake the lead.

Gordon Hayward took over the Hornets offense in the final moments, scoring ten straight Hornet points. Then Miles Bridges was able to get to the basket around Sabonis for a go-ahead layup with just under a minute remaining in the game.

The teams went back and forth exchanging misses and Bridges was called for a questionable foul that sent Torrey Craig to the line. He hit both free throw to give the Pacers the lead. The Hornets diagramed a play for Hayward, but his shot came up short, and PJ Washington collected the offensive rebound and was fouled. He hit both free throws.

Washington had the assignment of guarding Sabonis in the final seconds and he played strong defense. Sabonis’ last shot attempt came off the rim and the Hornets came away with the victory.

The Hornets had six players in double figures. Ball scored a team high 31 points, Gordon Hayward 27, Kelly Oubre Jr. and Ish Smith each had 14, Miles Bridges 13 and Cody Martin 10.

The Pacers Sabonis had a game high 33 points with 15 rebounds (double-double), Malcolm Brogdon 28, Chris Duarte 27 and Justin Holiday added 11.

The Hornets will try for their second straight win on Friday against the Cleveland Cavaliers. The Pacers will try to get their first win of the season against the Washington Wizards.