Hornets Upset Suns to End 10-Game Losing Streak, Ball Scores 32 Points While Booker and KD Combine for 65
On January 8th, Beijing time, the NBA regular season continued. In today's focus game, the Suns challenged the Hornets away. Booker led the Suns to a 7-point lead with 14 points in the first quarter, but Ball exploded in the second quarter, leading the Hornets to consecutive runs of 14-0 and 8-0, outscoring the Suns 37-17 to take a 13-point lead at halftime. Durant and Booker led the Suns to a comeback in the third quarter, reducing the deficit to 5 points entering the final quarter. The Suns fought back fiercely in the fourth quarter, but Ball always led the Hornets to respond. Ultimately, the Hornets defeated the Suns 115-104 at home, ending their 10-game losing streak. The Suns' record became 16 wins and 19 losses, while the Hornets' record improved to 8 wins and 27 losses.
Both Sides' Data:
Suns - Booker scored 39 points, 6 rebounds, and 10 assists; Durant had 26 points and 6 rebounds; Plumlee had 0 points and 13 rebounds; Beal had 10 points and 5 assists; Allen had 9 points; Nurkic had 8 points, 3 rebounds, and 3 assists;
Hornets - Ball scored 32 points, 10 rebounds, and 6 assists; Miller had 10 points; Bridges had 21 points and 7 rebounds; Richards had 15 points and 12 rebounds; Williams had 9 points and 10 rebounds.
Star of the Game: LaMelo Ball
Ball played 35 minutes, shooting 12 of 28, including 5 of 16 from three-point range and 3 of 5 from the free-throw line, totaling 32 points, 10 rebounds, 7 assists, and 4 steals, helping his team defeat the Suns at home.
Exciting Moments:
- A single trick to eat the world! Durant's stick single-play mid-range shot is still an invincible move.
- The pot-picker! Miller's last-second shot hits a buzzer-beating three-pointer.
- The body is really explosive! Bridges' fast-break one-handed dunk is full of power.
- It's a pity this ball didn't go in! Ball's self-shooting and grabbing shows off his personal ability, almost making it into the top ten plays.
- Unstoppable personal ability! Ball's long-range three-pointer hits with precision.
- It can only be him! Booker activates his "Musou" mode, scoring 2+1 on a mid-range fadeaway.
- Too strong! Bridges dunks over Durant after receiving the ball.
- Killing with kindness! Ball hits a three-pointer from outside the arc, bringing the point difference back to 10.
Game Review:
In the first quarter, Booker made a shot, Durant made two free throws, Miller hit a three-pointer, and then Booker scored 4 points to continue expanding the lead with a 6-0 run. After Bridges made a shot, Booker was fouled and made two free throws, followed by another basket from Durant. Bridges scored 5 points in a row, and the Hornets responded with a 9-2 run to close the gap to just 2 points. Nurkic hit a three-pointer, Booker and Smith also scored, Allen hit a three-pointer, and Booker continued to score to expand the lead to 10 points again. Richards made four consecutive free throws, Nurkic hit another three-pointer, and after Richards made another shot, the Suns led the Hornets 29-22 at the end of the first quarter.
In the second quarter, Beal made a shot, Miller hit a three-pointer, Salon made a shot, and after Williams made a free throw, the Hornets closed the gap to 2 points. Booker completed a 2+1, Bridges made a shot, Morris and Booker scored 4 points to stabilize the situation. Bridges and Jones each made shots, Green hit a three-pointer, Richards made two free throws, Ball hit another three-pointer, Martin and Ball made consecutive shots, and Green made two more free throws as the Hornets went on a 14-0 run to take a 7-point lead! After Durant stopped the bleeding for the Suns, Ball and Richards scored 4 points in a row, Booker made a shot, Durant made a free throw, Ball completed a 2+1, Bridges hit a three-pointer, and Miller made another shot as the Hornets ended the first half with another 8-0 run, leading the Suns 59-46.
Changing sides for the second half, Durant scored 5 points in a row, Booker made two free throws, and the Suns started with a 7-0 run to reduce the deficit to 6 points. Bridges dunked over Durant to complete a 2+1, expanding the lead to 11 points. Durant made two free throws, Jones, Booker, and Durant scored consecutively, and the Suns went on an 8-0 run to close the gap to 3 points. Ball made a shot to stop the scoring drought, Booker made two free throws, Durant made a shot to reduce the deficit to 1 point, Williams completed a 2+1, and Richards made a shot to stabilize the situation. Booker scored 4 points in a row to continue closing the gap. After Ball and Beal scored, Ball first completed a 2+1 and then hit a three-pointer to expand the lead to 9 points. Allen and Booker hit consecutive three-pointers, and Ball and Smith also responded with outside shots. Nurkic made a shot, Durant and Salon made two free throws each, Beal made a shot, and the Suns trailed the Hornets 83-88 at the end of the third quarter.
In the decisive fourth quarter, Richards and Smith scored 5 points in a row, Misić made two free throws to expand the lead to 12 points, Dunn and Bridges each made shots, Beal made a shot, and then Misić and Williams scored 4 points in a row to extend the lead to 14 points. Beal and Booker scored 5 points to reduce the gap, Ball completed a 2+1, Allen hit a three-pointer, and then Ball hit two consecutive three-pointers to extend the lead to 15 points! Durant completed a 2+1, followed by a bank shot, Dunn made a shot to reduce the gap to 8 points, Miller hit a three-pointer to extend the lead to 11 points, and Booker and Bridges each made two free throws. The Suns were unable to turn the tide, and the Hornets ended their 10-game losing streak!
Starting Lineups:
Suns - Booker, Jones, Dunn, Durant, Plumlee;
Hornets - Ball, Bridges, Williams, Miller, Green.