He’s back: Hornets’ star LaMelo Ball records double-double in win over Atlanta
With a brief mini-break in the rearview mirror, the Charlotte Hornets got back to action Thursday night, taking on one of their nemeses in the Southeast Division.
Maybe they should petition the NBA for that much time off again.
Buoyed by having the services of LaMelo Ball available for the first time in three games, the Hornets rode an emotional wave they generated from the opening tip and pulled out a 133-126 triumph over the Atlanta Hawks at Spectrum Center.
“Yeah, we’re entering a pretty brutal stretch here coming up in January, so it’s good to have the four days,” Hornets rookie Kon Knueppel said. “We used it for practice, getting the team better, and I thought they were very productive.
“We’ve had that last week as well, and I think the last three games that we’ve had a lot of practice time. We played really well together and played good, good basketball. So, I think we’ll keep it going.”
That’s two straight victories for the suddenly streaking Hornets (9-18) and not a moment too soon. As Knueppel mentioned, they’re hopeful of furthering these good times.
“Let’s just keep on trying to win, you know what I’m saying?” Ball told The Charlotte Observer. “Adding wins. Whenever we lose, not go through that drought. Next game, win.”
Here are some key takeaways from the Hornets’ second straight victory:
LaMelo knocks off rust in return
Ball put together one of his most complete efforts of the season, particularly offensively, and it wasn’t even close.
Entering the night with his shooting percentages way below his career mark — the star point guard had made 38.6% of his overall attempts and 28.5% from 3-point range — Ball’s stroke was on from the get-go against the Hawks.
He netted six of his initial nine attempts, with all those makes coming beyond the arc, and registered 21 first-half points en route to posting 28 points to go along with 13 assists and four rebounds. He had two huge driving layups in the closing two minutes, helping the Hornets hold onto their advantage, before sealing it with a 31-footer that send the bulk of the 16,124 in attendance into a frenzy.
“I’m doing what I need to do just to win the game, pretty much,” Ball told the Observer. “I wasn’t trying to press to shoot the ball or anything. We’ve got so many weapons now, so I ain’t got to force anything. So, I’m just letting the game come to me.”
Apparently, the week-plus Ball had rehabbing his injury was beneficial.
“Yeah, our overall team is always boosted anytime he plays,” coach Charles Lee said. “The spirit of the group goes up when you have that mighty fighter. When you’ve got to go to battle and you see him show up, you’re like, ‘Oh, dang. We’re going to be all right.’ And so I think the group really rallies around that.
“And he did a great job defensively of taking on matchups and finishing possessions.”
Offensive outburst
In building up one of their largest leads of the season, and evoking shades of their Oct. 22 opener when they blew away the Brooklyn Nets by 19 points, the Hornets nearly cut down the arena nets with their sharpshooting.
Charlotte amassed 18 of its 24 total made 3-pointers in the opening two quarters, which fueled an 80-point first half. That mark was only four points off the franchise record for first-half points.
“I think (it was) just making the right plays,” said Brandon Miller, who had 26 points, “passing up good ones for a great one. And that’s all we can ask for just, us making the right plays.”
Getting out in transition was also key for the Hornets, who chalked up 20 fast-break points — with 17 coming in the first half. They picked apart the Hawks’ porous defense, carving them up in a variety of ways.
“Yeah, I just think we got great shot quality,” Knueppel said. “Just playing fast, getting those pass aheads, passes across in transition, we knew that coming in that would be a big, big, source of points for us. But also just sharing it. We made a lot of extra passes, passing up good, good shots for great shots. And that leads to a higher percentage.”
Knueppel ‘impressive’
The love for Knueppel seems to increase with every home game.
Cheers for Knueppel during introductions trail only Ball and Miller in terms of loudness, and whenever the rookie raises up and lines up a jump shot behind the 3-point arc, the crowd anticipates it’s going in.
And why shouldn’t it?
Knueppel’s numbers are off the charts. He’s nailed more than 47% of his attempts, drained 45% from 3-point land and canned 92.1% of his free throws. The 28 points he netted against the Hawks (15-13) were the fewest he’s recorded in his last three games.
“No, it’s been impressive,” Lee said. “I’ve been with a couple of guys that have been striving toward that during the season, during my time in Milwaukee and Boston, the time that those guys put in and the quality that they were able to create to put themselves in position to have such high field goal percentages, it’s impressive.
“So, for a young player at his age in your first year in the NBA to be able to do that, just shows the type of maturity that he has, the awareness of the shots that we need him to take, the shots we think the team needs to take. And so I’ve been really impressed with that and just his overall growth.”
This story was originally published December 18, 2025 at 9:39 PM with the headline "He’s back: Hornets’ star LaMelo Ball records double-double in win over Atlanta."
