LaMelo Ball played a strong second half, finishing with 26 points, including two crucial free throws with 7.3 seconds left, to help the Charlotte Hornets snap a two-game losing streak with a 115-114 win over the Milwaukee Bucks on Saturday afternoon.
Giannis Antetokounmpo recorded a triple-double for the Bucks, with 22 points, 15 rebounds, and 12 assists, but his potential game-winning 18-foot shot missed as time ran out. Antetokounmpo shot 11-for-22 from the field.
For the Hornets, Miles Bridges contributed 19 points, Josh Green added 15, Brandon Miller scored 13, and Moussa Diabate came off the bench for 12 points and 14 rebounds in 25 minutes. Tre Mann, back after missing a game, scored 11 points.
The Bucks were led by Taurean Prince with 23 points, and Bobby Portis scored 21 off the bench, shooting 9-for-15 from the field. Despite their efforts, Milwaukee was unable to win for the third consecutive game.
The game was close throughout, with the score tied at 107-107 with under three minutes remaining. Bridges hit a 3-pointer to give Charlotte a 110-107 lead, and after Antetokounmpo dunked, Ball made a basket off a drive to extend the lead to 112-109 with 1:07 left.
With 19.1 seconds remaining, Pat Connaughton gave the Bucks a 114-113 lead before Antetokounmpo fouled Ball, who calmly made both free throws, finishing 11-for-11 from the line.
The game started with both teams struggling for consistency, and Milwaukee held a 90-86 lead going into the fourth quarter after a back-and-forth second half.
The Bucks were up 107-103 but then went over three minutes without scoring. They had an eight-point lead at halftime, leading 63-59, while shooting 54.3% from the floor. Both teams made eight 3-pointers in the first half.
Ball, Charlotte’s top scorer in all but two games, struggled in the first half, going just 1-for-5 from the field.
