LaMelo Ball makes 10 3-pointers in Hornets’ win over Wizards
LaMelo Ball made a career-high 10 3-pointers in a 37-point performance as the visiting Charlotte Hornets snapped a two-game losing skid with a 129-112 win over the Washington Wizards on Sunday.
Ball shot 12 of 20 from the field and 10 of 15 from behind the arc for Charlotte, which led by as many as 29 and made a season-high 25 3-pointers, one shy of its franchise record. Kon Knueppel made five 3-pointers and finished with 28 points, and Brandon Miller scored 22 while shooting 5 of 7 from beyond the arc.
Ball tied the Hornets' single-game franchise record for made 3-pointers and moved into third place on the franchise's all-time leaderboard for 3-pointers made (873). He also contributed eight rebounds and seven assists.
The Hornets completed a four-game season sweep of the Wizards while shooting 49.4% from the field and 54.3% (25 of 46) from 3-point range. Josh Green added 12 points off the bench.
Charlotte led by five at halftime before shooting 85.7% (12 of 14) from beyond the arc and outscoring Washington 44-28 in the decisive third quarter. Ball had six 3-pointers and 18 points in the period.
Bilal Coulibaly led Washington with 17 points. Jaden Hardy scored 16 points, Kyshawn George and Jamir Watkins added 13 apiece, and Tre Johnson and Will Riley each finished with 11.
Coulibaly scored the first 11 points for the Wizards, who trailed 31-19 with 3:48 left in the first quarter. Washington rallied to pull within 38-37 at the end of the period.
The tempo slowed in the second quarter, when the Wizards were limited to six field goals. Ball had 19 points in the first half to lead Charlotte, which led 61-56 at intermission.
Charlotte extended its lead to 81-65 with 6:37 left in the third quarter before Ball took control. The sixth-year point guard made four straight 3-pointers over the next 99 seconds to put the Hornets ahead 93-72 with 4:28 remaining in the period.
The Hornets played without forwards Miles Bridges and Moussa Diabate, who completed their four-game suspensions for their roles in a fight during a loss to the Detroit Pistons on Feb. 9.