North Charlotte Today

Five players from the Charlotte Hornets scored in double figures, leading to a narrow 125-123 victory over the Chicago Bulls on Friday. This win broke an eight-game losing streak against the Bulls and marked Charlotte's third win in four games.

LaMelo Ball was a key player for the Hornets, scoring 26 points and providing nine assists while shooting 11-of-13 from the free-throw line. Mark Williams contributed with 19 points, a season-high 19 rebounds, three assists, and two blocks. Miles Bridges added 21 points, four rebounds, and three assists. Nick Smith Jr., making his first career start, scored 15 points and matched his career-high with five rebounds. Seth Curry also added 15 points on 7-of-10 shooting.

Nikola Vucevic led all scorers with 40 points for Chicago, along with 13 rebounds and three assists. Zach LaVine scored 19 points, secured six rebounds, and provided eight assists. Coby White recorded 18 points, five rebounds, and eight assists.

The game saw significant momentum shifts. The Hornets used a 23-4 run to open the fourth quarter and gain a double-digit lead. However, Chicago responded with a 16-3 run to close within one point with just over sixteen seconds remaining. Despite Chicago's efforts to take the win, LaMelo Ball and Vasa Micic maintained composure at the free-throw line to secure the victory.

Nick Smith Jr., playing in his first NBA start after returning from Greensboro Swarm duty, made an early impact with ten second-quarter points while contributing defensively.

Mark Williams nearly achieved his second career "20-20" game but settled for his fourth double-double of the season. He engaged in competitive play against Nikola Vucevic throughout the night.

Seth Curry demonstrated effective scoring off the bench during his seven-minute stint in the first quarter by contributing eleven quick points on efficient shooting.

Reflecting on this victory, Hornets Head Coach Charles Lee stated: “It’s fun; this is what you work for... You’ve got to be able to go with the ebbs and flows of the game."

The Hornets will return home for a noon tipoff against Dallas Mavericks on Martin Luther King Jr. Day before heading out to Memphis on Wednesday followed by starting their franchise-record nine-game homestand.