How LaMelo Ball, Miles Bridges led Charlotte Hornets to home victory over New Orleans
A victory was never in doubt for the Charlotte Hornets on Saturday.
Charlotte dominated throughout its 123-92 thumping of the New Orleans Pelicans in front of an announced crowd of 18,461 inside Spectrum Center.
LaMelo Ball and Miles Bridges, who each missed the Hornets’ last game, played the most minutes. While it was far from just its starters who powered Charlotte’s dominance, a 25-point night from Ball and Bridges’ 22 points led the attack on offense for the home team.
“My team has confidence in me, so that ultimately gives me the most confidence,” Bridges said. “Coach (Charles Lee), he has confidence in me. If he has confidence in me, there’s certainly no reason why I don’t.
“It was good. The crowd showed up. We played fast. We had fun. It was one of our blowout wins that we normally don’t have, so it was great for us.”
A huge night for the Charlotte Hornets’ reserves
Charlotte’s bench outscored New Orleans’ reserves by a margin of 52-13.
Those efforts included 16 points from Seth Curry, who made four of six shots from long range over 19 minutes.
Moussa Diabate was effective on both sides of the ball, snagging a team-best 13 rebounds to go with a nine-point performance. Isaiah Wong totaled 11 points off the bench, while Josh Okogie scored seven points and added four boards in another strong game from the newcomer.
“The fans have been supporting us, showing up to games, and I’m just trying to live in the moment,” Curry said. “Just try to dribble the ball, put that jersey on, and go out there and play for the Hornets. You have so many games, you think you can kind of take it for granted at times, but I try not to.
“Every time I put that jersey on, I just be appreciative, go out there and play hard.”
LaMelo dominates in Hornets’ win over Zion, Pelicans
Ball led the way for Charlotte (12-30), but it was a Carolinas legend who scored the most points Saturday.
Pelicans (12-34) star Zion Williamson, the Salisbury-born phenom who starred at Spartanburg Day and Duke, played against the Hornets for the fifth time in his NBA career and led all scorers with 28 points.
The Hornets, who held a 25-point advantage heading to the fourth quarter, were a step ahead throughout the night. They knocked down 11 3-pointers in the first half and held a dominant upper hand early.
“I like the way (Ball) has handled all the notoriety and pressure that comes with being a top-level talent like he is,” New Orleans head coach Willie Green said. “We’ve seen him grow and get better every season. This season, he’s taken the challenge of having to lead the team. He’s putting up a ton of points, and his ability to pass the ball and play in transition, it opens up the floor for his entire group.”
What’s next for Charlotte?
The Hornets welcome another strong opponent to Spectrum Center as they play host to LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers at 7 p.m. Monday for the third game in Charlotte’s historic nine-game homestand.
This story was originally published January 25, 2025 at 9:30 PM.
