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

LaMelo Ball scored 30 points with 11 assists and Brandon Miller added 26 points as the visiting Charlotte Hornets earned a 135-117 victory over the Los Angeles Lakers on Thursday.

Miles Bridges scored 25 points and rookie Kon Knueppel added 19 as the Hornets moved to 2-1 on a five-game road trip. They shot 54.3% from the floor and 46.5% (20 of 43) from 3-point range. Ball was 9 of 17 from distance.

Much improved since the start of the new year, Charlotte is 4-4 since Jan. 2 but two of the defeats were by one point and one was by two points. The Hornets also had a 150 points in a victory over the Utah Jazz to start the road trip.

Luka Doncic scored 39 points and LeBron James added 29 points with nine rebounds as the Lakers lost for the fourth time over their past five games. Los Angeles has slipped to 5-8 since Dec. 20 after opening the season with a 19-7 record.

Jake LaRavia scored 18 points and Deandre Ayton added 12 for the Lakers, who shot 46.2%.

Los Angeles got off to a fast start, leading by as many as 13 points 10 minutes into the game and holding a 39-30 lead after one quarter. The Hornets stormed back in the second quarter, pulling even 43-43 before the midway point.

Charlotte turned a 34-16 scoring advantage in the second into a 64-55 halftime lead. Los Angeles shot just 27.8% in the second.

The Hornets went up 77-62 early in the second half before the Lakers pulled within 93-89 with 4:00 remaining in the third quarter after a Doncic 3-pointer. Charlotte was back up by double digits at 104-93 to start the fourth quarter.

The Hornets put together a decisive 14-3 run to take a 123-106 lead with 5:31 remaining after a jumper from Bridges off a Ball pass. Ball sealed the victory on consecutive 3-pointers for a 133-117 lead with 1:30 left.