The Charlotte Hornets, the worst team in the Eastern Conference with the worst offensive rating in the NBA, beat favorites the Atlanta Hawks 144-138 on Monday night.
That one felt GOOD. 🕺#LetsFly | @NewAmsterdam pic.twitter.com/0fvzSJG65Z
— Charlotte Hornets (@hornets) February 14, 2023
Despite the Hawks shooting the ball better than they usually do, Charlotte was unrecognizable. The lowly Hornets, who took the season series 3-1, knocked down 20-37 (54.1%) threes and shot a blistering 63.1% from the field.
Big game for the big baller.@MELOD1P with a career-high-tying 15 assists. 🛸💕
— Charlotte Hornets (@hornets) February 14, 2023
Charlotte’s LaMelo Ball led all scorers with 30 points in the win as he finished with 15 assists and six rebounds while Terry Rozier had 29 points and Gordon Hayward added 26 for the Hornets.
Less than 24 hours after his trade was approved, Saddiq Bey found himself in Atlanta’s starting lineup. However, he was the only Hawks starter who didn’t score 20 points.
The entire game was a race with minimal defense. Atlanta shot 39.3% from three and made all 21 of their free throw attempts.
John Collins (hip flexor) missed the game, and his replacement played well. Bey logged 12 points and five rebounds in 21 minutes of action.
The Hornets’s next game will be against the San Antonio Spurs in two days while Atlanta heads home for a matchup against the New York Knicks on Wednesday night.