Charlotte Hornets guard LaMelo Ball, left, and his brother, Chicago Bulls guard Lonzo Ball (2), greet each other after an NBA basketball game Friday, Jan. 17, 2025, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Erin Hooley)
CHICAGO — LaMelo Ball scored 26 points, Miles Bridges had 21 and the Charlotte Hornets held on for a wild 125-123 win over the Chicago Bulls on Friday night in the NBA.
Mark Williams scored 19 points and grabbed 19 rebounds for the Hornets, who rallied to win a second straight game for just the second time this season. Charlotte has won three of four after a 10-game skid.
Article continues after this advertisementCharlotte won without Brandon Miller, the Hornets’ No. 2 scorer, and the team announced after the game he has a torn ligament in his right wrist. Miller, who’s averaging a career-high 21 points, will be out indefinitely.
FEATURED STORIES SPORTS PBA: TNT shuts down Ginebra behind Calvin Oftana, RHJ SPORTS Eastern in QF, but loses import to injury and faces big decision SPORTS PBA: Mikey Williams says he 'always' wants to play for TNT READ: NBA: Lakers vs Hornets postponed due to Los Angeles wildfiresgonna tell my kids this was Chicago the musical@MELOD1P x @MilesBridges @drpepper | 📹 @FDSN_Hornets pic.twitter.com/crvlQNcuMN
— Charlotte Hornets (@hornets) January 18, 2025
Nikola Vucevic scored a season high 40 points — including 17 in the fourth quarter — and had 13 rebounds, but Chicago dropped a season-high fourth straight.
Article continues after this advertisementZach Lavine scored 19 points and Coby White added 18 for the Bulls. Lonzo Ball, playing against his younger brother, had 6 points, three rebounds and three assists.
Article continues after this advertisementCharlotte opened the fourth quarter with a 21-2 run to build a 119-105 lead. Chicago then pushed back with a 12-0 streak of its own.
Article continues after this advertisementChicago cut Charlotte’s lead to one point — 122-121 — on Vucevic’s hook with 1:47 left, but Ball hit two free throws seconds later. Vucevic followed with a basket from the stripe to cut it to a 1-point deficit again before Vasa Micic hit one of two free throws with 12.6 seconds left.
ugga buggaVucevic missed a 3-point attempt with 6 seconds left, then LaVine missed a shot off the rebound.
Article continues after this advertisement TakeawaysHornets: Charlotte will need to continue to get contributions throughout the roster to help make up for the loss of Miller.
Bulls: Chicago showed some life following a 110-94 home loss to depleted Atlanta on Wednesday.
READ: NBA: LaMelo Ball, Hornets snap 10-game skid at expense of Suns Key momentThe Hornets seemingly put it away with a 21-2 run to start the fourth quarter and took a 115-105 lead. Chicago didn’t score in the quarter until Vucevic sank a hook 4:26 into the period.
The Bulls were down by as much as 12 in the first half before storming back to lead 103-98 after three quarters.
Key statLonzo Ball, 27, played against younger brother LaMelo, 23, for the fourth time in the NBA.
Subscribe to our daily newsletter
“You’re just traumatized when you have these losses. At some point, you’re just glad you’re alive,” said Don Hornstein, an insurance law expert at the University of North Carolina. “And then, you have to turn to the business side of this. It’s tough.”
Hornets: Host Dallas on Monday.
Bulls: Open a three-game trip at Portland on Sunday.apex gaming88
READ NEXT NBA: Hornets’ Brandon Miller out indefinitely with wrist... NBA: Lakers hold off Nets, Austin Reaves hits career-high 38 EDITORS' PICK Road closures, re-routing set for Feast of Sto. Niño in Pandacan Marcos: Nat’l food emergency seen to lower rice prices Probe into PhilHealth’s unpaid reimbursements pushed What will happen to TikTok on Apple, Google app stores on Jan 19? TikTok users brace for ban: ‘More sad than shocked’ Isko Moreno leads 2025 Manila mayoral race surveys MOST READ Isko Moreno leads 2025 Manila mayoral race surveys Doctor assaulted in road altercation, suspect nabbed BSP eyes PH shift to coin-lite society PH, China agree to honor provisional understanding on Ayungin trips Follow @FMangosingINQ on Twitter --> View comments