Hornets Rally Past Pelicans 102-95 in Monday Comeback

The Charlotte Hornets completed a stunning comeback Monday night. They defeated the New Orleans Pelicans 102-95. Charlotte erased a 15-point halftime deficit to win their seventh straight game.

Pelicans Start Hot

New Orleans looked unstoppable early. They raced to a 30-23 lead after one quarter. Trey Murphy III caught fire from the start. His smooth jump shot found the net again and again.

The Pelicans stretched their advantage to 64-49 by halftime. Murphy slashed through defenders and knocked down shots. Zion Williamson powered through the paint like a freight train. His 250-pound frame crashed toward the rim. Derik Queen grabbed rebounds and finished around the basket.

Hornets Storm Back

But Charlotte flipped the script after halftime. The home crowd roared louder with each possession. LaMelo Ball took control like a maestro conducting an orchestra. His flashy passes zipped through tiny windows. He finished with 24 points, five assists, and eight rebounds.

The Hornets chipped away at the lead. They outscored New Orleans 29-18 in the third quarter. Brandon Miller hit key shots when Charlotte needed them most. Kon Knueppel battled on the boards with nine rebounds.

Grant Williams provided a spark off the bench. He scored 16 points on scorching shooting. Ryan Kalkbrenner protected the rim with three blocks. His long arms swatted away Pelicans shots.

Murphy Fights Alone

Murphy finished with a game-high 27 points for New Orleans. He fought hard until the final buzzer. But the Pelicans ran out of gas in the fourth quarter.

Williamson added 14 points and 11 rebounds. Herbert Jones chipped in 12 points. Yet without injured stars Dejounte Murray, Brandon Ingram, and CJ McCollum, the Pelicans couldn't match Charlotte's depth.

Playoff Push

The victory moved Charlotte to 23-28 overall. Their seven-game winning streak keeps their playoff dreams alive. New Orleans fell to 13-39. Their tough season continues without key players.