LaMelo Ball pumped in 32 points and the Charlotte Hornets snapped a 10-game losing streak by beating the visiting Phoenix Suns 115-104 on Tuesday night.
Ball added 10 rebounds, seven assists and four steals for Charlotte. He had help from Miles Bridges with 21 points, Nick Richards with 15 points and 12 rebounds and Brandon Miller with 13 points.
The outcome was just the second victory in the last 20 games for Charlotte.
Devin Booker tried to keep the Suns in it with 39 points, marking his highest output since November. Kevin Durant had 26 and Bradley Beal, in his second game in a row coming off the bench, finished with 10 points.
Phoenix has lost five of its last six games, unable to build on Monday night’s victory at Philadelphia.
Ball and Miller were playing their second games since each missed more than a week with their latest injuries. Ball shot 12-for-28 from the field, making five of 16 attempts from 3-point range.
Courtesy of a 37-17 scoring advantage in the second quarter, the Hornets led a 59-46 halftime lead.
Ball had it going so well that while falling backward to the floor after a scramble to pursue a rebound of his own missed shot, he converted a three-point play with 5:06 left for a 104-92 lead.
Charlotte’s next six points came from a pair of Ball’s 3-pointers. He scored all nine of his fourth-quarter points in a 1-minute, 40-second span.
Miller tacked on a 3 for a 113-102 edge with 1:21 remaining.
The Hornets ended up 26-for-29 on free throws, while the Suns were 18-for-19 at the line.
Phoenix shot 8-for-33 on 3-pointers and surrendered 20 offensive rebounds to the Hornets. Booker was 2-for-8 on 3s and 14-for-25 overall.
Center Mason Plumlee made his fifth straight start for Phoenix, and the former Charlotte player turned in a curious line Tuesday with 13 rebounds and two assists but no points (0-for-1 from the field).
–Field Level Media
