Charlotte Hornets Pull Away From New Orleans Pelicans With Strong Second Half
You know that feeling when you wake up, stub your toe, spill your coffee, and think, “Well, today is going to be a disaster”? The Charlotte Hornets had the basketball equivalent of that Monday afternoon—except their version involved their franchise star colliding head-first with their head coach.
But instead of folding, they turned a potential blooper reel moment into their biggest comeback of the season. Overcoming a scary early collision and a massive 22-point deficit, the Hornets clawed their way back to stun the New Orleans Pelicans 102-95 at the Spectrum Center. It wasn’t just a win; it was a statement. This marks Charlotte’s seventh consecutive victory, a streak the franchise hasn’t seen in a decade.
A Collision Course, Then a Comeback Course
The afternoon started with a collective gasp from the 17,000 fans in attendance. Early in the first quarter, LaMelo Ball accidentally smashed heads with Head Coach Charles Lee on the sideline. It was the kind of freak accident that usually signals “it’s not your night.” Ball headed to the locker room, leaving a stunned silence in the arena.
The Pelicans, smelling blood in the water, pounced. They ripped off a 19-6 run, followed by a 22-7 surge that ballooned their lead to 22 points. At that moment, the Hornets looked dead in the water. The offense was stagnant, the energy was flat, and the scoreboard was ugly.
Flipping the Script In the Second Half
Ball eventually returned, and while he was clearly shaken up, his impact was undeniable. He finished with 24 points and, perhaps more tellingly, a +24 plus-minus rating. When he was on the floor, the game simply tilted in Charlotte’s favor.
The second half was a complete 180-degree turn from the first. The Hornets came out of the locker room looking like a different team. They were aggressive, defensive-minded, and relentless. They outscored New Orleans 29-18 in the third quarter, chipping away at the lead until the mountain didn’t look so high anymore.
Brandon Miller, fresh off being named the Eastern Conference Player of the Week, shook off a brutal start (2-for-12 in the first half) to pour in key buckets when it mattered. It was a testament to the “shooters shoot” mentality; Miller didn’t let the early misses haunt him, contributing 8 massive points in the third quarter alone to swing the momentum.
A Streak For the History Books
By the time the fourth quarter rolled around, the Pelicans looked shell-shocked. Charlotte opened the final frame on an 18-5 run, effectively burying New Orleans and completing the turnaround.
Seven wins in a row. It sounds almost foreign to say it out loud given the struggles this franchise has endured in recent years. But right now, the Hornets are playing with an infectious belief. They took a punch—literally, in Coach Lee’s case—and didn’t just stay standing; they swung back harder.
For a team that trailed for the vast majority of the afternoon, walking away with a 102-95 victory feels like theft in the best possible way. If this is the kind of resilience they’re bringing to the table, the rest of the Eastern Conference better wake up. The Hornets are buzzing, and for the first time in 10 years, they aren’t going away quietly.
