Hornets snap 10-game skid with 115-104 win vs. Suns

Shane Connuck, The Charlotte Observer on Jan 7, 2025

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CHARLOTTE, N.C. — The reinvigorated Charlotte Hornets earned a triumphant victory in their return home Tuesday night, ending a 10-game losing streak.

Charlotte’s 115-104 win over the Phoenix Suns marks just the eighth time in roughly a year that LaMelo Ball, Brandon Miller, Miles Bridges and Mark Williams — who comprise Charlotte’s “Core Four” — took the floor together.

Their presence was felt early.

The Hornets led for most of the night, outscoring the Suns 37-17 during the second quarter. The 20-point margin marks their best point differential in any quarter this season.

“They’re very young, very talented,” head coach Charles Lee said of the Core Four. “They work their tails off, and I’m just excited for them to have another opportunity to go out there and play together, grow together and learn together against a really high-quality opponent in the Suns.”

It had been nearly a month since the Hornets’ last win, coming Dec. 8 in Indianapolis with a victory over the Pacers. Charlotte, which had dropped 18 of its past 19 games entering Tuesday, was looking to avoid losing 11 in a row.

Ball led the way with a 32-point night — knocking down five 3-pointers — while energizing the 16,647 inside Spectrum Center.

Bridges, who played a team-high 37 minutes, dropped 21 points in the victory. Backup center Nick Richards contributed 15 points off the bench, while Miller added 13 points.

“We’ve definitely got to up our physicality more to start the games,” Bridges said before the game. “I feel like we don’t start playing physical until we’re down a little bit. If we start playing physical from the jump, it gives ourselves a good chance.

“It’s the NBA. These guys, they’ve been scoring their whole careers. It’s a team effort, and you trust your team to get stops, and that’s what makes us a team.”

Phoenix star Devin Booker poured in 39 points to lead all scorers, and Kevin Durant scored 26 points on 8-of-18 shooting.

Lee’s a ‘great, great guy’

“Charles is a very, very special person,” Suns head coach Mike Budenholzer said of Lee, who started his professional coaching career on his staff in Atlanta. “I just could not be happier for him. I think about how much he helped me: Were both probably pretty young going through this, and we’ve both grown. He’s a great coach; He’s an even better person.

“His ability to communicate with players, hold players accountable, help them grow and improve. Now taking that to the head coaching position, it’s been fun for me to observe from a distance, have phone calls and conversations with him. I just love him. Great, great guy.”

What’s next for Charlotte?

Charlotte heads west to begin a five-game road trip starting in Los Angeles. The Hornets play the Lakers at 10:30 p.m. ET Thursday and will also meet the Clippers, Suns (9 p.m. Sunday), Jazz and Bulls before returning home to host the Dallas Mavericks at noon Jan. 20.