Hornets star LaMelo Ball, who scored 37 points in Sunday's win against the Wizards, chats with Charlotte Observer reporter Roderick Boone after the game. By Roderick Boone| Charlotte Observer
In the midst of a challenging stretch and short two starters, Charles Lee made sure to have a chat with the team on Sunday.
“We’ve got to get better at some situational basketball things,” the Charlotte Hornets coach said. “Your two-for-ones. Are you executing at the end of games? We have some things that we have to improve upon because those (end-of-quarter) possessions are really valuable in order to either take momentum back, create momentum for your team or just gain other possessions.”
Lee’s edict was heeded against the Washington Wizards.
LaMelo Ball kicking things into gear didn’t hurt, either.
Ball’s offense ignited an attack that propelled the Hornets to run past Washington 129-112 at Capital One Arena, putting a halt to a two-game losing skid coming out of the All-Star break.
With Ball torching the nets to the tune of 37 points on the strength of canning 12 of 20 attempts, including going 10 of 15 beyond the 3-point arc, and sparking impressive showings from Kon Knueppel (28 points) and Brandon Miller (22), the Wizards were no match for the Hornets.
Especially in the third quarter, when Charlotte (27-31) tied the NBA record for made 3-pointers in a quarter with 12. Ball sizzled by draining 6 of 7 attempts beyond the arc in that period. He etched himself into the franchise record books yet again, joining a five-way tie for most 3-pointers made in a game.
“Just not forcing, finding the best looks,” Ball said, “finding the right places and everything, and just going from there.”
LaMelo Ball of the Charlotte Hornets. Gregory Shamus Getty Images
Lee pointed out how Ball’s performance against the Wizards is another indicator of the evolution in the 24-year-old’s game. He mentioned Ball not hoisting any heat checks, which means he was all about winning basketball.
“I love it,” Lee said. “I think it just shows the continued growth and maturity that he’s proven all year. He has helped impact winning in a lot of different ways. It’s been his defensive activity. It’s been moments like that where he’s able to just keep making the right play no matter if he’s got it going, no matter if somebody else has got it going.
“He just has a better feel for the game. I feel like this year he’s trusting his teammates (more). I’m really proud of him for how he kind of handled himself and had the hot hand maturity in that moment.”
Knueppel also had praise for Ball beyond the numbers.
“Other than just the box score stuff, they were guarding him in a deep drop so I think our bigs did a good job of sticking to screens,” Knueppel said. “And we want him to shoot that shot every time. So, he got a ton of good looks, and then I think he made a lot of good plays after that when they were trying to blitz him a little bit ... and just continued to make the right plays.”
Here are some other things of note the Hornets said after pounding Washington:
Back to being whole
The Hornets can’t wait to officially welcome Miles Bridges and Moussa Diabate back into the starting unit, which will happen Tuesday in Chicago.
Sunday marked the finale of the four-game suspension the NBA handed out to the pair for fighting with the Detroit Pistons’ Isaiah Stewart and Jalen Duren. League rules allowed Bridges and Diabate to participate in practice sessions and shootaround, so they shouldn’t need a whole lot of conditioning to get into the swing of things after a nearly two-week absence in meaningful action.
The Hornets went 2-2 in their absence, relying on Grant Williams and Ryan Kalkbrenner to fill their starting roles. The return of Bridges and Diabate should provide a huge boost.
“Just way more depth,” Ball said. “We’ve got players in every position. And just, it’s two dogs, Miles and Moussa. Two M’s back. They play hard.”
Lee is looking forward to being able to utilize the duo again.
“It’ll be very nice to get two very good players back into the lineup,” Lee said. “But I’m also really proud of the guys that stepped up in their absence and gave us some really big minutes.”
Kon Knueppel of the Charlotte Hornets. Jared C. Tilton Getty Images
Kon Knueppel on Cooper Flagg purchase
Perhaps everyone should have a friend like Cooper Flagg.
The 2026 No. 1 overall pick is not only just good buddies with Knueppel following their lone season together at Duke, which springboarded the pair to top-four selections in the NBA Draft.
Apparently, Flagg is also a huge admirer. So much so that the Dallas Mavericks’ rising star forked over $7,000 at a memorabilia establishment for some Knueppel trading cards.
The video, shared on X — formerly known as Twitter — by Topps, has garnered more than one million impressions.
“I saw that,” Knueppel said. “Yeah, it’s pretty cool. He called me and I didn’t really realize … Like I’m not big into that stuff, so he was showing me the cards. No, it’s cool.
“And then I saw it on Twitter or X that he was like it’s $7,000. I didn’t realize cards were doing what they’re doing now, so I guess I’m not tapped in.”
Coby White sits again
Since acquiring Coby White via trade just prior to the deadline earlier this month, the North Carolina native hasn’t suited up for game action. He was on the bench in a black sweatsuit, serving as a spectator once more, sitting for the seventh straight outing.
But that could be changing soon.
White, nursing a left calf strain, is progressing and there’s a chance he’ll make his debut at some point on the Hornets’ road trip, which continues in White’s old stomping grounds of Chicago on Tuesday before concluding in Indianapolis on Thursday.
“I guess the update would be that he’s made some great strides,” Lee said. “He’s been able to go through some contact portions of practice and during his rehab sessions. As long as he can continue to show up every day after a little bit more intensity on the court and the evaluations go well, he’s getting closer to being able to play.”
With White’s importance to the Hornets’ hopes for a strong run down the stretch of the season, the team is being extra cautious..
“No doubt,” Lee said. “That is always at the forefront of our mind. How are we going to put him in the best position to obviously have success and also have availability past just one game. We want to make sure that we ramp him up in the right way.”