CHICAGO — In a thrilling contest on Friday night, LaMelo Ball led the Charlotte Hornets to a narrow 125-123 victory over the Chicago Bulls, scoring 26 points. Miles Bridges contributed with 21 points, while Mark Williams had a standout performance, registering 19 points and an impressive 19 rebounds. This win marked the Hornets’ second consecutive victory, a feat they have only achieved twice this season. After struggling with ten straight losses, Charlotte has now posted three wins in their last four games.
The Hornets competed without Brandon Miller, their second-leading scorer, who was announced to have suffered a torn ligament in his right wrist following the game. Miller has been having a breakout season, averaging a career-high 21 points per game and will be sidelined indefinitely as they navigate this setback.
For the Bulls, Nikola Vucevic had a remarkable game, scoring a season-best 40 points, with 17 of those coming in the final quarter, while also securing 13 rebounds. However, this defeat resulted in Chicago’s fourth consecutive loss, a new season record. Zach Lavine added 19 points and Coby White chipped in with 18 for the Bulls. In a matchup featuring brothers, Lonzo Ball managed to score 6 points alongside three rebounds and three assists while facing his younger brother, LaMelo.
The fourth quarter saw Charlotte jump out to a commanding 119-105 lead, courtesy of a 21-2 run. However, the Bulls made a strong response with a 12-0 run of their own. With just 1:47 remaining, Chicago reduced the margin to one point at 122-121 after Vucevic’s hook shot. LaMelo Ball answered with two clutch free throws, but Vucevic kept the pressure on with a basket of his own. Vasa Micic added a free throw making it 122-123, but the Bulls were unable to capitalize on their final attempts to tie or win the game, culminating in a missed three-pointer from Vucevic with only 6 seconds remaining.
Takeaways from the game highlight that Charlotte will need its entire roster to step up and fill the void left by Miller’s absence. On the other hand, Chicago showed signs of improvement after a disappointing 110-94 loss to an injury-riddled Atlanta team earlier in the week.
A pivotal moment in the game occurred when Charlotte surged ahead with a significant 21-2 run early in the fourth quarter, giving them a lead that proved to be crucial. Despite being down by 12 points in the first half, Chicago managed to claw back to take a 103-98 lead at the end of the third quarter.
In terms of family rivalries, this game marked the fourth meeting between the Ball brothers in the NBA, as the elder Lonzo faced off against LaMelo.
Looking ahead, the Hornets will prepare to host the Dallas Mavericks on Monday, while the Bulls are set to embark on a three-game road trip starting with a match against the Portland Trail Blazers on Sunday.
