Charlotte Hornets use 72-point first half to bury Kings. Later, they tie a record
You might think that the Charlotte Hornets’ 72-point first half on Tuesday was simply spectacular.
For that, you’d be right.
You might also think that the Hornets’ 72-point first half — a period that precipitated a 134-90 win over the struggling Sacramento Kings — was historically relevant and utterly unbelievable.
And for that, you’d be forgiven.
In the most complimentary of ways, the Hornets’ first-half outburst wasn’t all that special at all. Not for this team, the way it’s playing now, the way NBA players can score today. The last time the Hornets scored 72 in a first half was all the way back ... five days ago. Two games ago. Against the Orlando Magic on March 19. The Hornets haven’t played in another city since the last time they crested the 70-point half barrier.
Head coach Charles Lee attributed the high-scoring offense to seeing his team hyper-focused at shootaround, he said postgame.
“I think there’s a seriousness, there’s a commitment, there’s just a level of focus that I love from the group,” Lee said. “And the mindset that they all have to come in and be obsessed with the daily improvement has been really impressive to watch.”
Now, to add some context, this was only the second 70-point first half in the team’s enchanted season. They scored 69 against the 76ers in January, 67 at Indiana in February, 64 at Boston earlier this month and so on, according to Stat Muse.
The Hornets are a high-scoring bunch that get out to quick runs; coming into Tuesday, they were averaging 58.6 points per first half — 12th best in the NBA, per Team Rankings.
Tying a Hornets record for 3-pointers
The only thing that was unbelievable about Tuesday night, in fact, was that the Hornets didn’t break a franchise record.
They finished 26-of-55 from beyond the arc; the franchise-record for 3s made in a game was, and still somehow is, 26, initially set in a game 354 days prior against San Antonio. Ryan Kalkbrenner had a chance at breaking the record with a corner 3 on the team’s last field-goal attempt with about a minute left; it hit the back rim and bounced safely away from history.
Lee, when asked about the play, wryly smiled and joked: “If I would’ve known ...”
Sixth-man Coby White led the way in 3-point makes (6) and points (27) on Tuesday. He was one of five scorers to land in double-figures.
How did he feel about the scoring outburst? Is this just another example of this team’s potential?
“I sit back and I think about it,” White said postgame. “I’ve never been on a team this dangerous. It’s to the point where it can be a back and forth game, and then you hit one run, and then you look up, and you’re up 20, and then you’re up 30.
“I think the main thing is we’re explosive, but we’re starting to — not figure out, but just hold those leads when you do get them. ... That’s the impressive thing for me too.”
The Hornets, now 38-34, are tied with the Miami Heat for ninth-place in the Eastern Conference — and are now winners of eight of their past 11.
Charlotte only has 10 games remaining. Of those 10, they have to play Philadelphia once, Minnesota once, Detroit once, Boston twice and New York twice — that means seven of the Hornets’ final 10 are against playoff-bound teams.
The Hornets play next on Thursday at home against the Knicks at 7 p.m. on NBA TV.
This story was originally published March 24, 2026 at 9:34 PM.
