LaMelo Ball Leads Hornets to Victory Over Kings, DeRozan Reaches Scoring Milestone

SACRAMENTO, Calif. — LaMelo Ball scored 30 points, including 20 in the first half, as the Charlotte Hornets defeated the Sacramento Kings 117-109 on Wednesday night. The victory marked Charlotte’s first win in Sacramento in over two years.

Hornets’ Offensive Prowess

Miles Bridges contributed 26 points to the Hornets’ effort, while rookie Kon Knueppel added 24 points and Brandon Miller scored 20. Ball shot 10-of-22 from the field, making six 3-pointers, and also recorded six rebounds and five assists.

DeRozan’s Historic Night

Despite the loss, Sacramento Kings forward DeMar DeRozan had a notable performance, scoring 39 points. With this achievement, DeRozan surpassed Hall of Famer Tim Duncan to move into 18th place on the NBA’s all-time scoring list, reaching 26,505 points. Duncan finished his 19-season career with 26,496 points. CBS News

Game Recap

The Hornets trailed for much of the first half but began to take control in the third quarter. A key play involved an alley-oop pass from Bridges to Miller, giving Charlotte an 88-83 lead. Early in the fourth quarter, a three-point play extended the Hornets’ lead to 99-88. ESPN reports that after the Kings narrowed the gap to 108-100 with three minutes remaining, Ball hit a crucial three-pointer and added free throws to secure the win.

Key Contributors for the Kings

Nique Clifford scored 18 points with seven assists for the Kings, while Precious Achiuwa added 14 points and eight rebounds, and Daeqwon Plowden contributed 13 points. The Kings were playing without Russell Westbrook due to a quad bruise. CBS News

Looking Ahead

The Hornets will next face the San Antonio Spurs on Saturday, while the Kings will visit the Los Angeles Clippers on the same day. CBS News