LaMelo Ball Shines in Hornets’ Victory
In a commanding performance on Sunday night, LaMelo Ball set a personal best by sinking 10 three-pointers, contributing 37 points to lead the Charlotte Hornets to a decisive 129-112 victory over the Washington Wizards. This win completed a four-game sweep over Washington for the season.
Hornets’ Stellar Shooting Performance
Ball’s prolific shooting from beyond the arc was part of a stellar display by the Hornets, who shot 25 of 46 from three-point range overall. They particularly excelled in the third quarter, going an impressive 12 for 14 from deep, allowing them to take control of the game. Kon Knueppel was also instrumental, adding 28 points to the scoreboard, while Brandon Miller contributed 22 points of his own.
Wizards Struggle to Maintain Momentum
The Wizards struggled throughout the game and fell to a disappointing 16-40, losing a chance at securing their first three-game winning streak since February 2025. Bilal Coulibaly highlighted the Wizards’ early efforts by scoring 15 of his total 17 points in the first quarter, but the team’s momentum faltered after that.
Current Standings and Future Matchups
Charlotte, currently holding a record of 27-31, is positioned 10th in the Eastern Conference, now just half a game behind the Atlanta Hawks and a game and a half ahead of the Milwaukee Bucks. The Hornets had previously experienced a rough patch, dropping three of their last four games following a nine-game winning streak that had ended just before the All-Star break.
Game Highlights
After a tight first half, where Charlotte led by just five points at 61-56, the Hornets wasted no time extending their lead. Ball hit a three-pointer quickly alongside two from Miller, pushing the score to 70-56 shortly into the second half. Knueppel later added back-to-back threes, augmenting the Hornets’ lead to 15 points, a margin that the Wizards could not overcome for the remainder of the game.
Knueppel’s Rookie Season
Continuing his strong rookie season, Knueppel made five three-pointers in the game and now leads the NBA with 198 three-pointers this season, closing in on the rookie record set by Keegan Murray last year, needing just nine more to break it.
Looking Ahead
Looking ahead, the Hornets will travel to Chicago for their next matchup on Tuesday night, while the Wizards will face the Atlanta Hawks the same evening.
