In a game rescheduled from January due to the horrific and tragic wildfires in Southern California, the Charlotte Hornets, with a dismal 14-39 record, who have nothing to play for but pride, tipped off the NBA’s post-All-Star break schedule with a stunning 100-97 victory that came down to the wire, over the Los Angeles Lakers (32-21), who were double digit favorites coming in, killed to birds with one stone, snapping both their three-game losing streak and a four-game skid against the Lakers.
Miles Bridges delivered a captivating and stellar performance with a game-high 29 points, including a pair of clutch three-pointers down the stretch that first knotted the game at 88 and then gave Charlotte a 93-90 advantage. He collected 6 boards and a career high 5 steals, with 4 of those thefts coming in the opening quarter.
LaMelo Ball had a great game of his own even on a difficult day for his family with his father Lavar having his foot amputated, complementing Bridges’ effort with 27 points, 5 rebounds, and 6 assists, while Nick Smith Jr. and Mark Williams contributed 12 and 10 points respectively. Williams was briefly on the Lakers roster before the trade was rescinded due to problems with his physical.
Embed from Getty ImagesFor the Lakers, LeBron James, who did not play in the All-Star Game because of foot and ankle soreness, posted a stat line fit for a king, with 26 points, 7 rebounds, and 11 assists. James scored 16 of his 26 points in the fourth quarter but missed two game-changing 3-point attempts right before the buzzer.
Luka Doncic struggled from the field, shooting just 5-18, but still managed a double-double with 14 points and 11 boards in his third game for the Lakers, who bookended the All-Star break with losses to the Utah Jazz and Charlotte, a pair of the NBA’s bottom feeders. He also struggled from the perimeter, 1 of 9 from 3-point range.
The Lakers were forced to play the final frame of the contest without their third best player Austin Reaves (8 points) after he received two technical fouls leading to an ejection by veteran official Rodney Mott.
The Hornets’ victory came despite being outperformed in a number of key statistical categories: shooting percentage (36.3% to Lakers’ 41.1%), rebounds (47-50), assists (20-29), points in the paint (26-40), and fast break points (10-24).
The Hornets, on the second night of a back-to-back, visit Nikola Jokic and the Denver Nuggets Thursday night in their final meeting of the season. Denver won the previous encounter 107-104 on February 1st.
The Lakers travel to Portland on Thursday to take on Anfernee Simons and the Trailblazers.
