LaMelo Ball returned to action and cranked out 28 points and 13 assists with a splendid shooting display as the Charlotte Hornets beat the visiting Atlanta Hawks 133-126 on Thursday night.
Ball sank seven of his nine 3-point baskets in the first half, when he rolled up 21 points. He finished 10-for-16 from the field.
The game marked the return of star guards Trae Young of the Hawks and Ball. Young had been out for 22 games, while Ball was in his second extended injury absence of the season.
Kon Knueppel provided 28 points and Brandon Miller pumped in 26 points for the Hornets, who shot 24-for-49 on 3-pointers. They made 18 of 31 long-range shots in the first half. Miles Bridges had 16 points. Charlotte was at 53.8% from the field.
Jalen Johnson poured in 43 points to go with 11 rebounds and nine assists for Atlanta. Nickeil Alexander-Walker notched 28 points, hitting all four of his first-half 3-point attempts and then missing all five second-half attempts from behind the arc. Dyson Daniels had 14 points and Onyeka Okongwu added 12. Young finished with eight points in 20 minutes, going 0-for-5 on 3s.
Ball, who has been bothered by an ankle bruise, played for the first time since Dec. 5. This marked his first home outing since Nov. 29.
Despite trailing by as many as 24 points, the Hawks pulled within six points on Johnson’s basket with 8:02 left. Johnson cut the gap to 122-121 with a 3-pointer with 2:39 left.
Ball responded by scoring Charlotte’s next seven points for a 129-123 edge with 28 seconds left.
Charlotte entered the night averaging 14 made 3-pointers per game.
The Hornets rolled to a 66-42 lead midway through the second quarter, with back-to-back 3-pointers from Knueppel and Ball providing that margin.
But Atlanta had a strong final five minutes of the first half, closing to within 80-69 at the break. Alexander-Walker bagged three 3-pointers in the final 65 seconds of the half.
Charlotte shot 58.8% in the first half from the field and 58.1% on 3s. The Hawks were at 51% entering halftime.
The Hawks won 113-110 against the Hornets on Nov. 23 at home.
