LaMelo Ball leads Hornets to wire-to-wire victory over Hawks

Updated Feb. 13, 2023 9:56 p.m. ET

Associated Press

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — LaMelo Ball had 30 points and 15 assists, Terry Rozier added 29 points and the Charlotte Hornets held off the Atlanta Hawks 144-138 on Monday night to snap a seven-game losing streak.

Gordon Hayward scored 26 points and P.J. Washington added 22 as the Hornets shot 63% from the field. Ball had six 3-pointers and Rozier hit five as Charlotte tied a season high with 20 made 3s.

It was the second-highest point total in Hornets franchise history, behind the 158 they scored against Indiana last season.

Rookie center Mark Williams finished with 15 points and a huge block on Trae Young's 3-point attempt for Charlotte in the final minute.

Young finished with 25 points and 14 assists for the Hawks, who had their two-game win streak snapped. Clint Capela added 22 points, DeAndre Hunter had 21 and Dejounte Murray scored 20 for Atlanta.

The Hornets never trailed, jumping out to a 14-point lead behind 21 first-half points from Hayward.

Charlotte extended its advantage to 17 early in the fourth quarter when Ball found Washington in the left corner for a wide-open 3. But the Hawks wouldn't quit, cutting the deficit to two with 2:22 left when Young knocked down a 3 from the right wing.

A few possessions later, Young had a chance to tie the game on a step-back 3, but the 7-foot Williams stepped out to block the shot with his long wingspan. Hayward gathered the loose ball and fired a lookahead pass to Williams, who avoided a defender and scored on a Euro step with 52.8 seconds to go, bringing the crowd to its feet.

TIP-INS

Hawks: Saddiq Bey, acquired in a trade with Detroit, made his first start for the Hawks with John Collins out due to a sore hip flexor. Bey was quiet in the first quarter but finished with 12 points, including three 3s.

Hornets: Ball set a franchise record by making a 3-pointer in his 47th straight game. ... Charlotte was 20 of 37 from 3-point range.

UP NEXT

Hawks: Host the New York Knicks on Wednesday night.

Hornets: Wrap up a three-game homestand Wednesday night vs. San Antonio.

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