LaMelo Ball returned to the floor Thursday night like a man on a mission-and the Charlotte Hornets looked like a different team because of it.
After missing the last three games with a left ankle bone bruise, Ball wasted no time reminding everyone what he brings to the table. In just 16 first-half minutes, he dropped 21 points and connected on seven of his first nine shots from deep. It wasn’t just the scoring, either-he orchestrated the offense with precision, racking up eight assists before halftime and setting the tone for a high-octane Hornets attack.
By the final buzzer, Ball had tallied 28 points on an efficient 10-of-16 shooting night, including a season-high eight made threes. He also added four rebounds and a team-best 13 assists, putting together the kind of all-around performance that makes you remember why he's such a key piece of Charlotte’s future-regardless of the trade chatter that’s been swirling during his time on the sideline.
This wasn’t just a strong night for Ball-it was a statement win for the Hornets, who outgunned the Atlanta Hawks 133-126 and looked as fluid offensively as they have all season. Charlotte poured in 80 points in the first half alone, their second-highest scoring half of the season. And they did it with a barrage from beyond the arc, hitting 24 of their 49 three-point attempts-a blistering 49% clip.
Ball wasn’t the only one lighting it up. Rookie guard Kon Knueppel matched Ball’s scoring output with 28 points of his own, also knocking down eight threes in a breakout performance. Forward Brandon Miller added 26 points and hit four from deep, continuing to show growth as a reliable scoring option.
The Hornets’ offense was humming, but the game wasn’t without resistance. Hawks forward Jalen Johnson put on a show of his own, pouring in 43 points on 16-of-27 shooting while grabbing 11 rebounds. He gave Atlanta a fighting chance down the stretch, but Charlotte’s shot-making and ball movement proved too much to overcome.
For the Hornets, now 9-18 on the season, this marks just their second set of back-to-back wins. But with Ball back in rhythm and the supporting cast stepping up, there’s reason to believe this team might be finding its stride. It’s been an up-and-down start to the year for Ball-he’s missed 10 of the team’s 27 games-but when he’s on the floor and in control, the Hornets’ ceiling looks a whole lot higher.
The challenge now? Keeping him healthy and keeping the momentum rolling. Because Thursday night wasn’t just a win-it was a glimpse of what this team can be when everything clicks.