Ball Leads Hornets Past Magic

LaMelo Ball had an all-around great game, leading the Charlotte Hornets to a blowout win against the Orlando Magic, 128-101, on Thursday.

Ball became the youngest player in NBA history to make 300 career three-pointers. The Hornets got back on track from a tough loss against the conference leading Miami Heat, to ensure themselves a winning percentage of at least .500 in the 2021-22 regular season. The victory assures Charlotte (41-39) their first non-losing season since 2015-16.

The Hornets got off to a sluggish start. P.J. Washington rejected Mo Wagner’s game-opening shot attempt and center Mason Plumlee laid in Miles Bridges’ miss to open the scoring. Markeele Fuetz’s drive to the basket put the Magic on the board. After Washington’s layup, Orlando went on an 11-2 spurt to grab the lead. Ball trimmed it to four, 13-9, with a shot from beyond the arc.

The Magic got whatever they wanted, shooting nearly 70% from the floor. Emotions were running high most of the night. Charlotte’s Cody Martin dunked over Wagner early on and brought the Hornets to within four, 22-18. Several Hornets, including Washington, began talking trash from the sideline. Wagner responded on the next possession with a reverse dunk and proceeded to stare down the Hornets bench. A 12-6 run to end the first quarter, gave the Hornets a one-possession lead, 30-28.

The Hornets started the second quarter with some crisp ball movement that led to an easy basket by Montrezl Harrell. Washington and Ball knocked down consecutive, long range bombs, to give them a 12-point advantage, 42-30, and they quickly extended the lead to 20 points, thanks to a 36-11 run dating back to the first quarter. Kelly Oubre Jr. scored nine points off the bench, swishing all four of his free throws. Terry Rozier and Bridges led Charlotte through the remainder of the first half. The Hornets scored 40 points in the second quarter. At the half, Charlotte had a commanding lead, 70-50.

A lethargic start to the third quarter allowed the Magic to creep back into the ballgame on an 8-0 run, 70-58. Rozier stopped the bleeding from the charity strike and a three-point shot. He and Bridges were the catalyst to help build the Hornets lead back over 20. Admiral Schofield knocked down a pair of threes, prompting James Borrego to call a timeout. Ball hit his 300th career shot from downtown moments later. The Magic outscored the Hornets 12-7 as the third quarter concluded, to slice the deficit to 15 points, 97-82.

The Hornets went on an 11-0 surge to begin the final stanza, including the highlight of the night with a between-the-legs, off the backboard alley-oop from Ball to Harrell, for a two-handed dunk.

“It’s a cool play,” Ball said. “I saw (Harrell) coming and just threw it off the glass.”

After that sequence, emotions boiled over. McDaniels’ foul on R.J. Hampton’s drive caused a fourth quarter dustup. Several players, including Harrell and Robin Lopez, began pushing and shoving each other under the basket. Official met for over a minute and ejections were handed out. Harrell, Lopez and Schofield were all tossed.

The Hornets kept up their momentum and were able to rest their starters on the first night of a back-to-back.

Chuma Okeke led the Magic with 20 points. He also had seven rebounds, four assists, three steals and two blocks. Wagner scored 17 points, had five boards and three dimes. Fultz added 12 points, five rebounds and six assists. Hampton finished with 12 points, eight rebounds and five assists.

Ball had a game-high 26 points, with eight rebounds, nine assists and four steal for the Hornets. Rozier scored 22 points, with eight boards, three assists, one steal and one rejection. Oubre added 16 points, with nine of them coming in the second quarter, six rebounds, and one assists. Harrell finished with 14 points, two rebounds, two assists, one steal and two blocks.

The Magic host Jimmy Butler and the Miami Heat on Sunday. The Hornets travel to Chicago to take on DeMar DeRozan and the Bulls on Friday.