CHARLOTTE, N.C. — In a thrilling finish, Miles Bridges sank a last-second 3-pointer from the corner, assisted by LaMelo Ball, to secure a 117-116 victory for the Charlotte Hornets over the San Antonio Spurs on Friday night. This win marked a significant end to the Hornets’ six-game losing streak.
De’Aaron Fox looked to have clinched the game for San Antonio with a buzzer-beater 3, but after a review, officials determined the shot was off the mark before time expired, allowing Charlotte to celebrate the narrow win.
Bridges led Charlotte with 25 points, shooting 10-of-18, while Ball made a strong comeback from a previous ankle injury, contributing 24 points and 10 assists. Nick Smith Jr. continued his scoring streak, adding 19 points for the Hornets, and Moussa Diabate proved to be a formidable presence on the boards, grabbing 15 rebounds as he filled in as the starting center.
For the Spurs, rookie Stephon Castle shone bright with a personal best of 33 points. Fox finished with 22 points, helping keep the game competitive. He managed to tie the game just under a minute left and later put San Antonio in front with a mid-range jumper with 7.9 seconds remaining. Victor Wembanyama contributed 16 points and 11 rebounds to the effort.
An important takeaway from the game was the Spurs’ struggle on the rebounding front, as they were significantly outpaced on the boards, with a final tally of 53-38 in favor of Charlotte. The Hornets were somewhat short-handed, as they awaited the arrival of new players such as Dalton Knecht, Cam Reddish, and Jusuf Nurkic, who were acquired at the trade deadline.
A key moment of the game occurred when Ball made a decisive move to drive toward the basket in the final seconds. Spotting Bridges in the corner for an open shot proved to be the winning play.
Notably, the Hornets capitalized on second-chance opportunities, scoring 27 points off reboots compared to only nine by the Spurs.
The Spurs are scheduled to face the Orlando Magic on Saturday night, while the Hornets will hit the road to play against the Detroit Pistons on Sunday.
