Rookie Kon Knueppel scored 24 points and LaMelo Ball added 20 to lead the Charlotte Hornets to a 109-99 win over the Houston Rockets on Thursday night, extending Charlotte’s winning streak to eight games — the franchise’s longest since the 1998-99 season.
The Hornets led by 16 after three quarters, and Brandon Miller opened the fourth with five points to push the lead to 96-75 with about 11 minutes remaining. A 5-0 run capped by a 3-pointer from Sion James extended the advantage to 103-81, prompting Houston coach Ime Udoka to pull his starters. Miles Bridges contributed 18 points for Charlotte, and Miller finished with 11 despite sitting out the second quarter due to foul trouble.
Kevin Durant led Houston with 31 points, while Jabari Smith Jr. added 17. Alperen Sengun struggled, scoring just seven points on 3-of-11 shooting. The Rockets suffered a second straight lopsided loss after falling 114-93 to Boston on Wednesday. Coby White, acquired in Wednesday’s trade with Chicago, did not play and is expected to remain sidelined until after the All-Star break with a calf injury.
Durant’s basket briefly cut Charlotte’s lead to seven late in the third before consecutive 3-pointers from Ball and James pushed it back to 83-70. Charlotte ended the third on a 4-point run to take a 91-75 lead into the fourth.
Up next:
Charlotte will visit Atlanta on Saturday night, while Houston heads to Oklahoma City.
