Shorthanded Hornets Survive Late Atlanta Rally to Keep Hot Streak Alive 110-107
It wasn’t exactly how head coach Charles Lee drew it up in the huddle, but in this league, you don’t apologize for wins—especially when you’re missing two starters.
Despite a roster thinned out by suspensions, the Charlotte Hornets managed to hang on by the skin of their teeth Wednesday night, edging the Atlanta Hawks 110-107. It marked the Hornets’ 10th victory in their last 11 games, a run that is quickly turning heads across the Eastern Conference.
Brandon Miller was the catalyst for Charlotte, pouring in a game-high 31 points and grabbing nine rebounds. With Miles Bridges and Moussa Diabate serving the first of their four-game suspensions following Monday’s altercation with the Pistons, the Hornets desperately needed someone to shoulder the scoring load. Miller obliged, looking every bit the franchise cornerstone they drafted him to be.
Hornets Overcome Roster Adversity
Coming into the night, the narrative surrounding the team was less about basketball and more about who wasn’t in the building. Losing Bridges and Diabate significantly shortened the rotation, putting pressure on the bench to step up.
Enter Kon Knueppel. The rookie has shown flashes all season, but Wednesday night was a coming-out party of sorts. Knueppel finished with 18 points, including four clutch three-pointers that kept the Hawks at bay whenever they threatened to make a run. His composure down the stretch—specifically sinking two free throws with 19.4 seconds remaining—was the difference between a regulation win and a potential overtime collapse.
“Kon stepped up big time. That’s what winning teams do.”
LaMelo Ball Leads Perimeter Assault
While Miller provided the steady hand, LaMelo Ball provided the fireworks. The Hornets’ point guard finished with 24 points, doing the bulk of his damage from deep. Ball connected on seven three-pointers, fueling a perimeter attack that saw Charlotte attempt a staggering 51 shots from beyond the arc. They converted 19 of them (37.3%), a mathematical advantage that the Hawks simply couldn’t overcome despite shooting a better overall percentage from the field.
The Hornets seemed to be cruising, holding a comfortable 19-point lead in the second half. The offense was flowing, the ball was moving, and the defensive intensity was stifling an Atlanta team that looked ready to pack it in.
Surviving the Hawks’ Late Rally
But in the NBA, 19-point leads aren’t what they used to be.
Atlanta, led by the relentless energy of Jalen Johnson (19 points, 13 rebounds, 9 assists) and Dyson Daniels (21 points), began to chip away. The Hawks ramped up their defensive pressure, forcing Charlotte into stagnant possessions and ill-advised shots. The once-raucous crowd at the Spectrum Center grew tense as the lead dwindled to single digits, and then, with 1:05 left on the clock, a Johnson jumper cut the Hornets’ lead to a single point.
The final sixty seconds were pure chaos. After a defensive stop, the Hawks had a golden opportunity to take the lead on a fast break. However, Onyeka Okongwu coughed up the ball—one of Atlanta’s 13 turnovers on the night—killing their momentum.
Forced to foul, the Hawks sent Knueppel to the line, where he iced the game. Atlanta had one final gasp, but Okongwu’s redeeming three-point attempt clanked off the rim. CJ McCollum, who provided a spark off the bench with 17 points, chased down the rebound but couldn’t get a shot off before the buzzer sounded.
What This Means for the Hornets
This win does more than just add to the record; it proves the Hornets have the grit to win ugly. Beating a division rival while down two key rotation pieces is a testament to the culture change in Charlotte. They’ve now taken the season series against Atlanta 3-1, a tiebreaker that could prove massive for playoff positioning down the road.
For the Hawks, it’s a bitter pill to swallow. Wasting a near triple-double from Johnson and a furious comeback effort stings, but their inability to defend the three-point line ultimately sealed their fate.
The Hornets will look to keep the momentum rolling, but they’ll have to do it for three more games without Bridges and Diabate. If Wednesday night was any indication, however, they might just have enough firepower to weather the storm.
