Despite a clash of heads with head coach Charles Lee early in the game, LaMelo Ball scored 24 points to help the Charlotte Hornets overcome a 22-point deficit to defeat the New Orleans Pelicans 102-95 on Monday.
The Hornets thus signed a seventh victory in a row.
Kon Knueppel added 17 points, including four baskets from downtown. Brandon Miller and Grant Williams scored 16 points each as the Hornets moved to within a half-game of the Atlanta Hawks and 10th place in the East, the latter giving access to the playoff qualifying tournament.
The Hornets won after committing 17 turnovers to match their longest winning streak since March 2016.
Trey Murphy III led the Pelicans with 27 points, but New Orleans suffered its sixth loss in nine games. Zion Williamson had a double-double of 14 points and 11 rebounds and Derik Queen provided 16 points.
Ball left the game briefly in the first quarter with an injury near his eye after hitting his head on Lee’s while trying to keep the ball in play after an inaccurate pass.
He quickly returned to the game and scored 18 points in the first half.
Elsewhere in the NBA:
Houston – Indiana
NEW:
IND :
Minnesota – Memphis
MIN :
MEM :
Philadelphia – LA Clippers
PHI :
LAC :
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