NBA: Lakers keep stumbling, fall to LaMelo Ball, Hornets at home

LaMelo Ball scored 30 points and dished out 11 assists, while Brandon Miller added 26 points as the Charlotte Hornets defeated the Los Angeles Lakers 135-117 on Thursday.

Miles Bridges contributed 25 points, and rookie Kon Knueppel added 19 as Charlotte improved to 2-1 on their five-game road trip. The Hornets shot an efficient 54.3% from the field and 46.5% (20 of 43) from three-point range, with Ball making 9 of 17 from beyond the arc.

Charlotte has shown significant improvement since the start of the new year, going 4-4 since Jan. 2. Two of those losses were by a single point, and one was by two points. The Hornets also scored 150 points in a win over the Utah Jazz to begin their road trip.

For the Lakers, Luka Doncic scored 39 points, and LeBron James added 29 points with nine rebounds. Jake LaRavia contributed 18 points, and Deandre Ayton added 12 as Los Angeles fell for the fourth time in their last five games. The Lakers have struggled since Dec. 20, going 5-8 after opening the season with a 19-7 record. Los Angeles shot 46.2% for the game.

The Lakers started strong, leading by as many as 13 points 10 minutes into the game and holding a 39-30 lead after the first quarter. Charlotte stormed back in the second quarter, tying the game at 43-43 before taking a 64-55 halftime lead, thanks to a 34-16 run. Los Angeles shot just 27.8% in the second quarter.

In the second half, Charlotte extended the lead to 77-62 early in the third quarter. The Lakers briefly closed the gap to 93-89 with 4:00 left in the quarter after a Doncic three-pointer. The Hornets regained double digits at 104-93 entering the fourth quarter.

Charlotte sealed the victory with a decisive 14-3 run, taking a 123-106 lead after a Bridges jumper from a Ball assist. Ball capped the win with back-to-back three-pointers, giving the Hornets a 133-117 advantage with 1:30 remaining.

—Field Level Media/Reuters