Hornets Second Half Surge Leads to Seventh Straight Win
The Charlotte Hornets hosted the New Orleans Pelicans on Monday afternoon at Spectrum Center after the game was moved from its original 7:00 PM tip-off to 3:00 PM due to inclement snow and winter weather that hit the Carolinas over the weekend. Charlotte came into the matchup riding the momentum of winning six straight games, and looked sharp early in front of the home crowd. The Hornets jumped out to a quick 7–0 lead and appeared comfortable to start the game. The energy inside the arena matched the strong opening stretch from Charlotte. That momentum, however, was quickly disrupted by an unfortunate collision on the sideline.
LaMelo Ball was diving for a loose ball near the bench when he collided head-first with Hornets head coach Charles Lee, who was attempting to toss the ball back to a referee. Ball immediately went to the locker room to have a cut on his head treated and to be evaluated for a possible concussion. With Ball off the floor, the Pelicans took control of the game and began to dictate the pace. New Orleans closed the first quarter on a strong run to take a 30–23 lead. Charlotte struggled to find consistent offense during Ball’s absence.
Grant Williams helped keep the Hornets within reach late in the first quarter by knocking down back-to-back three-pointers. His shots provided a needed spark and helped stabilize the Hornets after a difficult stretch. Charlotte continued to struggle offensively in the second quarter as the Pelicans extended their lead. New Orleans built an advantage as large as 22 points during the period. The Hornets were searching for answers on both ends of the floor.
However, Charlotte did receive a major boost when LaMelo Ball returned to the game after being cleared. Ball immediately found his rhythm and was up to 18 points before halftime. He and Grant Williams, who had 12 by half, combined for 30 of the Hornets’ 49 first-half points. Despite the surge, Charlotte was outscored 34–26 in the second quarter. The Hornets went into halftime trailing 64–49 and facing a significant uphill battle.
The Pelicans were led in the first half by Trey Murphy III, who scored 15 points, and Derik Queen, who added 12. New Orleans shot an efficient 50-percent from the field and 33-percent from three-point range in the opening half. Charlotte struggled by comparison and shot just 36- percent overall. The Hornets also connected on only 23-percent of their three-point attempts. Turnovers were another issue as Charlotte committed 10 in the first half while New Orleans had only two.
The Hornets came out of halftime with renewed focus and energy. Charlotte opened the third quarter with a 10–0 run that immediately shifted the momentum of the game. The defense tightened and forced difficult shots from New Orleans. Charlotte outscored the Pelicans 29–18 in the third quarter. The Hornets cut the deficit to just four points and trailed 82–78 heading into the fourth.
Early in the fourth quarter, LaMelo Ball delivered a powerful dunk about a minute and a half into the period to give Charlotte an 83–82 lead. It marked the Hornets’ first lead since the opening quarter. Charlotte continued to apply pressure on both ends of the floor. The Hornets controlled the pace and made timely plays down the stretch. New Orleans struggled to generate consistent offense in the final minutes.
Charlotte closed the game by outscoring the Pelicans 24–13 in the fourth quarter. The Hornets completed the comeback and secured a 102–95 victory in front of the home crowd. The win marked Charlotte’s seventh consecutive victory, its longest winning streak since March of 2016. It also served as redemption after a narrow loss to New Orleans earlier in the season on the road in early November. The Hornets showed poise and resilience throughout the second half.
Charlotte earned the win despite committing 16 turnovers and shooting just 24-percent from three-point range. Strong team play and disciplined defense made the difference. The Hornets allowed only 31 points in the second half after giving up 64 in the first. Defensive rotations were sharper and transition defense improved significantly. The collective effort fueled the comeback.
LaMelo Ball led the Hornets with 24 points and eight rebounds. Kon Knueppel followed with 17 points and nine rebounds, while Brandon Miller added 16 points and eight rebounds. The bench played a major role in the win. Grant Williams delivered a season-high 16 points and nine rebounds. Ryan Kalkbrenner also made a strong impact with 10 points and seven rebounds.
For New Orleans, Trey Murphy III led all scorers with 27 points. Derik Queen finished with 16 points, eight rebounds, and three steals. Zion Williamson recorded a double-double with 14 points and 11 rebounds. Herbert Jones added 12 points and seven rebounds. Despite these performances, the Pelicans struggled to maintain their offensive efficiency in the second half, leading to their defeat in this game.
With this win, the Hornets improve to 23–28 on the season and move into 11th place in the Eastern Conference. New Orleans falls to 13–39 and sits 14th in the Western Conference. Charlotte will travel to Houston to face Kevin Durant and the Rockets on Wednesday night. The Hornets will be seeking their eighth straight win for the first time since December of 1999. The Pelicans will head to Milwaukee to take on Ryan Rollins and the Bucks on Wednesday night as the trade deadline approaches Thursday afternoon.
