Health is the key to victory, and the Hornets proved that to be true.
The Hornets’ two best players, LaMelo Ball and Miles Bridges, made their way back from injuries and delivered the goods, scoring 25 and 22 points, respectively, as the home team Charlotte Hornets routed the New Orleans Pelicans by 31, 123-92 on Saturday night.
It was a total team effort. Seth Curry had 16 points off the bench and Josh Green contributed 13 points for the Hornets. Despite getting Ball and Bridges back, the Hornets were down big man Mark Williams, who is dealing with a right foot injury. Moussa Diabate logged 29 minutes off the bench to help fill in for Williams and was one point shy of a double-double with nine points and 13 boards.
Zion Williamson, who had not suited up since January 17, scored a game-high 28 points with 11 rebounds for the Pelicans, who lost their second game in a row following a season-best four-game winning streak. Williamson was efficient, knocking down 11 of 20 shots from the floor.
Trey Murphy III added 16 points, Jordan Hawkins had 14 and Yves Missi added 12, but the Pelicans could not overcome a subpar 38.1 percent shooting night. They fell to 4-18 away from the Smoothie King Center this season.
The Hornets outscored the Pelicans 63-24 from 3-point range. Charlotte had a rare hot night from downtown, making 21 of 50 3-point attempts, with Ball and Curry each draining four triples.
Bridges, who sat out Friday night due to back spasms when the Hornets lost to Anfernee Simons and the Portland Trail Blazers, went 8-for-13 from the field. Charlotte shot 50 percent overall as a team.
Ball did not play on Friday night because of a mild wrist sprain. Curry (ankle) also sat out against Portland.
The Hornets took advantage of being nearly fully loaded and were in full control on Saturday, leading by as many as 33.
The game was still in doubt late into the third quarter, it was only a 13-point affair, but Bridges connected on a 3-pointer to start a 12-0 surge that put Charlotte up 91-66 with 39.1 seconds to go until the final frame. The Hornets had a 93-68 cushion after three quarters.
The dynamic duo of Bridges and Ball combined for 27 points in the first half, lifting Charlotte to a commanding 63-45 lead at halftime.
Both teams were feeling the effects of playing on the second night of a back-to-back.
The Pelicans are on the road at Toronto facing the Raptors on Monday night.
The Hornets will host LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers as part of a franchise-record nine-game homestand on Monday.
