The Ball brothers turned Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse into their personal playground Monday night, giving fans a second-quarter showdown that felt more like a backyard battle than an NBA game. With the Cavaliers hosting the Hornets, the spotlight naturally landed on Lonzo and LaMelo Ball - and they didn’t disappoint.
This wasn’t just a meeting of siblings. It was a duel, a rhythm-driven game of “can you top this?”
LaMelo, the Hornets’ offensive engine, got things rolling with a smooth pull-up three early in the second quarter. Seconds later, Lonzo - now running point for Cleveland’s second unit - calmly stepped into a deep ball of his own.
Lonzo three.
— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) December 23, 2025
LaMelo three.
The Ball brothers are trading 3s early in the 2nd quarter of Cavs-Hornets 💦pic.twitter.com/iMFrdATSKz
Swish. Crowd erupts.
And just like that, what was already an intriguing Eastern Conference matchup had a whole new layer of entertainment.
LaMelo entered the night averaging 19.2 points and 8.6 assists, trying to energize a Hornets squad that’s been shaky on the road. His flair, court vision, and ability to create space have kept Charlotte competitive even when the wins haven’t come easy.
On the other side, Lonzo continues his journey back from injury, contributing 5.5 points and 4.7 assists per game - but more importantly, providing steady leadership and floor spacing for a Cavs bench that’s needed a stabilizing presence. That second-quarter three was a reminder: the shot is still there, and so is the confidence.
As the game moved into halftime, Cleveland held a 73-66 lead in what’s been a gritty, defense-first contest. Donovan Mitchell has done what he does best - lead - dropping 21 points to pace the Cavs. For Charlotte, rookie Kon Knueppel has stepped up with 15 points, continuing to show flashes of why the Hornets are so high on his upside.
Cleveland, currently trying to snap a three-game losing streak, came into this one needing a spark. Charlotte, meanwhile, is still searching for consistency in a season that’s been more about potential than performance.
But for a few electric minutes in the second quarter, none of that mattered. It was just Lonzo and LaMelo, trading buckets like they were back in Chino Hills - only this time, under the bright lights of the NBA.
No matter how this one ends, the Ball family highlight reel just got a new entry.