Hornets Stun Lakers in 100-97 Upset as James' Late Shots Miss Mark

The Charlotte Hornets delivered a surprising victory at Crypto.com Arena, defeating the Los Angeles Lakers 100-97 behind strong performances from Miles Bridges and LaMelo Ball. The win marked only Charlotte's second victory in their last 11 games.

Game-Deciding Sequence

In the final minute, Nick Smith Jr.'s clutch three-pointer gave Charlotte the lead with 48 seconds remaining. After Rui Hachimura missed two critical free throws, Ball extended the lead with a finger-roll layup. Despite James' late three-pointer cutting the deficit, his final two attempts from beyond the arc failed to find their mark.

Key Performances

• Miles Bridges: 29 points

• LaMelo Ball: 27 points, including crucial late-game free throws

• LeBron James: 26 points (16 in fourth quarter)

• Luka Doncic: 14 points, 11 rebounds, 8 assists (5-18 FG, 1-9 3PT)

Critical Game Shift

The Hornets overcame a 65-53 deficit late in the third quarter with a decisive 22-1 run. During this stretch, the Lakers went cold, missing 10 consecutive shots over 6:39. The momentum shift coincided with Austin Reaves' ejection following an exchange with referee Rodney Mott.

Notable Elements

• Lakers' seven-game home winning streak ended

• Mark Williams: 10 points, 9 rebounds against team that recently canceled his trade

• Game was rescheduled from January due to Southern California wildfires

Both teams return to action Thursday night, with Charlotte traveling to Denver while Los Angeles faces Portland on the road.