SACRAMENTO, CALIFORNIA (AP) – LaMelo Ball scored 16 of his 23 points in the fourth quarter and the Charlotte Hornets held off the Sacramento Kings 125-119 on Monday night to stop an eight-game losing streak.
Kelly Oubre Jr had 31 points for the Hornets (8-23), who won for the second time in 11 games.
“Great player. Athletic,” Ball said. “He’s a two-way player that gets it done on both sides.”
Ball had only three points at halftime but broke loose in the second half. The third-year guard added 12 assists and five rebounds before fouling out with 34.1 seconds left.
It was Ball’s seventh game of the season. He missed the first 13 with an ankle injury.
Gordon Hayward added 19 points, Mason Plumlee finished with 15 and Nick Richards scored 14 for Charlotte.
De’Aaron Fox had 37 points for Sacramento (16-13).
“Good reality check for us,” Kings coach Mike Brown said.
Domantas Sabonis scored a season-high 28 to go with 23 rebounds and seven assists for his third 20-point, 20-rebound performance of the season.
Keegan Murray and Harrison Barnes added 11 points apiece.
Sacramento cut its deficit to two with 1:24 left on Fox’s layup.
Charlotte responded with Hayward’s jumper and free throws by Oubre to seal it.
TIP-INS
Hornets: G Terry Rozier was ruled out before the game with a bruised right hip.
Kings: G Davion Mitchell returned after missing Friday’s game with a non-COVID-19 illness. Barnes bruised his right quad and was ruled out after scoring 11 points.
