CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — LaMelo Ball overcame a head-to-head clash with coach Charles Lee to score 24 points and the surging Charlotte Hornets fought back from a 22-point deficit to beat the New Orleans Pelicans 102-95 on Monday for their seventh straight victory.
Con Knuppel contributed 17 points and hit 4 three-pointers, Brandon Miller and Grant Williams each scored 16 points, and Charlotte trailed the Atlanta Hawks at halftime and ranked 10th in the Eastern Conference.
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The Hornets overcame 17 turnovers to tie their longest winning streak since March 2016.
Trey Murphy III scored 27 points to lead the Pelicans, who have lost six of their past nine games. Zion Williamson scored 14 points and 11 rebounds, and Derrick Quinn scored 16 points.
Ball briefly left the game in the first quarter with an eye injury after colliding with Lee while trying to stop an errant pass that went out of bounds.
He returned a few minutes later and scored 18 points on three-pointers in the first half, but the Hornets still trailed 64-49 at halftime after shooting 7 of 30 from beyond the arc and committing 10 turnovers.
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Charlotte took the lead in the fourth quarter on Ball’s drive and two-handed dunk.
Then, Miller, the Eastern Conference Player of the Week, pocketed Herbert Jones at midfield and dunked with one hand, extending the Hornets’ lead to nine points.
Next
Pelicans: Visit Milwaukee on Wednesday night.
Hornets: Visit Houston on Thursday night.
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AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/NBA
