The Charlotte Hornets didn’t put on an offensive clinic Monday night, but what they did do was dig in, get gritty, and claw their way back from 22 points down to beat the New Orleans Pelicans, 102-95. It wasn’t pretty, but it was effective - and it showcased a level of defensive intensity and resilience that’s been building during this recent stretch of wins.
A Rocky Start, a Gritty Finish
The game opened with a bit of visual dissonance - the Hornets on their blue city court but wearing their standard white jerseys. The aesthetics may have been off, and the offense certainly followed suit early. Kon Knueppel got things going with a three, followed by a Moussa Diabate dunk, but that early energy quickly faded.
Then came a scary moment: LaMelo Ball collided with assistant coach Charles Lee while chasing down a loose ball. The two hit heads, and LaMelo had to exit the game temporarily.
In the chaos that followed, the Pelicans rattled off eight straight points and took control of the first quarter. The Hornets’ offense sputtered without their floor general, and even when LaMelo returned - hitting a stepback three to try to spark something - the Hornets still trailed by seven after one.
The second quarter didn’t offer much relief. Charlotte’s offense looked stuck in the mud - stagnant movement, rushed shots, and a growing sense of frustration.
Even wide-open looks weren’t falling. Add in some sloppy turnovers, and the deficit ballooned to 22.
But just when it looked like the game might slip away entirely, LaMelo and Grant Williams started to chip away. A pair of LaMelo threes, a timely bucket from Williams, and a deep ball from Derik Queen before the half helped trim the gap to 12 at the break.
Second-Half Turnaround
The third quarter began with more missed threes from LaMelo, but this time, his teammates picked up the slack. Knueppel and Brandon Miller got aggressive, and suddenly the Hornets were back in it.
A Collin Sexton three pulled them within one, and the building started to buzz. They had a few chances to take the lead late in the quarter, but turnovers and missed threes from Knueppel and Sexton kept them just behind, trailing by four heading into the final frame.
And that’s when the Hornets flipped the script.
LaMelo got a switch onto Yves Missi, sized him up from the top of the key, and blew past him for a thunderous dunk that gave Charlotte the lead - and the momentum. From there, the Hornets’ defense absolutely locked in.
They held the Pelicans without a field goal for the first six-and-a-half minutes of the fourth quarter. That’s not just effort - that’s execution.
The rotations were crisp, the paint was packed, and the Pelicans looked completely out of rhythm.
The Hornets bled the clock with long, deliberate possessions, and while the offense never quite found its rhythm, it didn’t need to. The defense had done the heavy lifting. By the time the Pelicans found the bottom of the net again, the Hornets had built a nine-point cushion and weren’t looking back.
What Went Right
Second-Half Defense: Let’s start with the obvious - the Hornets’ defense after halftime was elite. New Orleans managed just 10 made field goals and 33 points over the final two quarters - and some of that came in garbage time.
Charlotte turned up the physicality, crowded the paint, and dared the Pelicans to beat them from the perimeter. Given New Orleans’ struggles from deep, that strategy paid off in a big way.
LaMelo Ball’s Grit: He didn’t have a great shooting night, but LaMelo was still the engine behind Charlotte’s comeback. He hit a few timely threes, punished mismatches when the Pelicans switched bigs onto him, and brought a spark every time the Hornets needed one.
And let’s not forget - this was after he took a shot to the face that required glue to close a cut on his eyelid. Tough night, tougher response.
Brandon Miller’s Midrange Game: Like LaMelo, Miller struggled from beyond the arc, but he was automatic inside it. His ability to create and finish in the midrange gave Charlotte a much-needed scoring option when the threes weren’t falling.
Oh, and during the broadcast, it was announced he earned Eastern Conference Player of the Week honors. Well deserved.
Ryan Kalkbrenner’s Paint Presence: This was a matchup that suited Kalkbrenner, and he made the most of it. Three blocks, several altered shots, and a strong effort on the glass helped anchor the Hornets’ defense, especially when the Pelicans tried to attack inside.
Grant Williams’ First-Half Spark: Williams gave the Hornets life when they needed it most. He and LaMelo were the only ones producing offensively early on, and his physicality on defense - particularly when matched up with Zion Williamson - was a subtle but important factor in slowing down the Pelicans’ interior attack.
What Still Needs Work
Offensive Flow: This wasn’t the kind of offense we’ve seen from the Hornets during this win streak. The ball stuck.
There were too many isolation possessions and not enough movement. Just 16 assists on 34 made shots tells the story.
When the ball doesn’t move, it’s easier for defenses to load up and disrupt rhythm - exactly what happened early in this one.
Turnovers: The Hornets cleaned things up as the game wore on, but the first half was turnover-heavy. A stagnant offense makes it easier for defenders to jump passing lanes and pressure ball handlers, and the Pelicans took advantage of that early. Credit to Charlotte for adjusting, but it’s a reminder that ball security has to be a priority from the opening tip.
Cold Shooting Night: The Hornets’ top quartet - LaMelo, Miller, Knueppel, and Miles Bridges - combined to shoot just 33.8% from the field and 21.4% from three. Some of that comes down to shot selection, but sometimes it’s just one of those nights. The important thing is they found another way to win.
What’s Next
That’s now seven straight wins for a Hornets team that’s finding its identity on the defensive end. They’ll hit the road for a quick two-game trip, starting Thursday night against the Rockets.
And with the trade deadline looming that same afternoon, the front office will have some decisions to make. But if this group keeps defending like this, they’re going to be a tough out - no matter who’s in the lineup.