The Charlotte Hornets won a big one at home Wednesday night and ended a three-game losing streak.
Six players scored in double figures as Charlotte posted a 111-100 win against the Milwaukee Bucks at Spectrum Center, building an early lead and pulling away from the team that entered Wednesday tied for third place in the Eastern Conference.
Hornets rookie center Ryan Kalkbrenner, made 8-of-8 shots from the field in his 17-point performance, and forward Miles Bridges scored a team-high 20 points. Guards Collin Sexton and Kon Knueppel each posted 16 points, respectively.
Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo missed Wednesday’s game with pain in the left knee . Guard Ryan Rollins scored 25 points to lead all scorers, while center Myles Turner added 21 points for Milwaukee.
How the Hornets defeated the Bucks
Kalkbrenner, who is shooting 80.8% from the field this season to lead the NBA, didn’t miss a shot against Milwaukee. He also had nine rebounds and three blocked shots.
The Hornets battled early and took the lead toward late in the opening quarter. Charlotte forward Pat Connaughton entered at the start of the second quarter and racked up 4 of his 13 points during his first minute of action, helping the Hornets build their lead against his former team.
Power forward Moussa Diabaté grabbed a team-best 13 rebounds and guard Tre Mann,, who finished with 13 points, nailed a 3-pointer from roughly 37 feet away during the final minute of the first half as the Hornets pulled away .
In the third quarter, Kalkbrenner grabbed the rebound from a missed shot and nailed his own bucket before blocking a Kyle Kuzma layup on the other end of the floor. He snagged another defensive rebound, backed down his defender and made a hook shot that extended Charlotte’s third-quarter advantage, and Mann hit a 3-pointer that made it 75-56.
Sexton and Bridges got to the free-throw line in the fourth quarter and capitalized, giving Charlotte its biggest lead of the night — 22 points . Hornets veteran Mason Plumlee entered for the final minutes of the fourth quarter to a roar from the crowd.
What’s next for the Hornets?
Charlotte continues its home-and-home against the Bucks at 8 p.m. Friday at the Fiserv Forum in Milwaukee.