KEY POINTS
- Miles Bridges scored 25 points to lead the Hornets to their seventh win in nine games.
- Charlotte erased a double-digit first-quarter deficit with a dominant 69-point middle half.
- The victory bolsters Charlotte’s push for a guaranteed Eastern Conference playoff spot.
The Charlotte Hornets continued their recent surge with a commanding 127-107 win over the Phoenix Suns on Thursday night. Playing in front of a home crowd, the Hornets overcame a sluggish start to secure a significant victory. This result marks Charlotte’s seventh win in their last nine outings as they fight for postseason positioning.
Phoenix opened the contest with high efficiency, connecting on 15 of their first 20 field goal attempts. The Suns established a 10-point lead early in the second quarter behind strong play from Jalen Green and Devin Booker. However, the Hornets responded with a defensive shift that completely altered the momentum of the game.
Charlotte ignited a 9-0 scoring run to close the first half and take a six-point lead into the locker room. The team maintained this rhythm throughout the third quarter, outscoring the visitors by a wide margin. By the end of the third period, the Hornets held a comfortable 102-87 advantage.
Miles Bridges led the offensive charge for Charlotte, finishing the night with 25 points on 10-for-16 shooting. Rookie Kon Knueppel provided 20 points, while Coby White contributed 19 points in a productive performance off the bench. Brandon Miller and LaMelo Ball combined for 32 points to round out the balanced scoring effort.
The Suns struggled to keep pace as their early shooting touch faded under increased defensive pressure. Jalen Green matched Bridges with 25 points, but the rest of the Phoenix roster faced difficulties finding consistent offense. Devin Booker scored 22 points, though 17 of those came during his productive first-half stint.
A notable moment occurred during the game when the Hornets played a tribute video for Mark Williams. The former Charlotte center returned to the city as a member of the Suns and finished with 12 points. Despite his efforts, Phoenix could not overcome a Hornets squad shooting 51.6% from the field.
The victory allows the Hornets to avenge a previous loss to the Suns from earlier in the season. Charlotte now moves to a 41-36 record, keeping them in the hunt for a top-six seed in the East. Meanwhile, the Suns continue to struggle on the road, having lost six of their last seven away games.
Charlotte’s ability to generate 12 successful three-pointers in the first half proved to be a decisive factor. Their transition game and ball movement, highlighted by Ball’s 11 assists, prevented Phoenix from mounting a fourth-quarter comeback. The Hornets remained in control with a double-digit lead for the entirety of the final period.
