Charlotte Hornets
The Charlotte Hornets are a rising team in the NBA, representing the heart of North Carolina with their signature teal and purple pride. Playing out of the Spectrum Center in Uptown Charlotte, the Hornets bring energy, athleticism, and a loyal fan base that keeps the city buzzing. Originally founded in 1988, the team has gone through its share of rebrands and rebuilds but remains committed to building a young, exciting roster with big potential. From iconic moments in franchise history to the promise of a bright future, the Hornets continue to embody the grit and passion of the Queen City—ready to make noise in the league once again.
Game Recaps
Articles Written By: Vickie Mathis
RJ Barrett delivered the decisive basket with 18 seconds remaining, lifting the Toronto Raptors to a narrow 110-108 victory over the Charlotte Hornets on Monday. Key defensive plays from Brandon Ingram and Scottie Barnes in the closing moments helped secure the win, marking Toronto’s eighth triumph in their last nine games. Ingram led the team with 27 points, while Barnes and Barrett contributed 16 apiece. Immanuel Quickley added a double-double with 15 points and 10 rebounds as the Raptors notched their fourth consecutive win.
Gilgeous-Alexander, Holmgren Spark Thunder to 109-96 Win Over Hornets CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 33 points and Chet Holmgren added 25 as the defending champion Oklahoma City Thunder pulled away in the third quarter to beat the Charlotte Hornets 109-96 on Saturday, marking their fifth consecutive victory. Ajay Mitchell contributed 14 points for the Thunder, who have won 23 straight games against Eastern Conference opponents and are 22-2 in their last 24 road contests. Isiah Hartenstein recorded a double-double with 12 points and 11 rebounds, while Cason Wallace added 10 points. For Charlotte, Miles Bridges led with 15 points, while Ryan Kalkbrenner, Collin Sexton, and Moussa Diabate each scored 13. The Hornets were without Brandon Miller (shoulder subluxation) and LaMelo Ball, who sat out the second game of a back-to-back following his return from an ankle impingement on Friday. The first half was tightly contested, featuring 11 ties and 11 lead changes. After a 30-30 first quarter, Oklahoma City overcame a six-point deficit in the second to take a 55-52 halftime lead, fueled by 18 points from Gilgeous-Alexander and Holmgren’s strong presence on the boards. Charlotte shot 10 of 24 from three-point range in the first half, while the Thunder made 6 of 12. Oklahoma City then opened the third quarter with a 16-1 run over four minutes, building a 15-point lead and heading into the fourth up 87-70.
Lakers Pull Away in Second Half to Beat Hornets 121-111 CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Luka Doncic scored 38 points, and Rui Hachimura added 21—including 13 in a dominant third quarter—as the Los Angeles Lakers pulled away to defeat the Charlotte Hornets 121-111 on Monday night. Austin Reaves chipped in 24 points for the Lakers, who have won six of their past seven games. The Hornets were led by Miles Bridges with 34 points on seven 3-pointers and rookie Kon Knueppel, who narrowly missed a triple-double with 19 points, 10 rebounds, and nine assists. Charlotte continued to struggle without LaMelo Ball and Brandon Miller. The Lakers broke the game open in the third quarter, outscoring Charlotte 31-15 as Hachimura hit three 3-pointers while defenses keyed on Doncic. Doncic dazzled the crowd with five triples, a flying dunk, and a highlight reel floater after a timeout in the fourth. The Hornets cut the lead to eight late, but Doncic sealed key points with a three-point play down the lane.
Powell Leads Heat Past Hornets, 126-108, After Historic First Quarter MIAMI — Norman Powell poured in 25 points as the Miami Heat surged past the Charlotte Hornets, 126-108, in Friday night’s NBA Cup matchup. The win was especially emotional for coach Erik Spoelstra, who secured the victory just a day after losing his home to a fire. Miami received strong contributions from Andrew Wiggins, who scored 22 points, and Pelle Larsson with 19. Charlotte got a breakout performance from rookie Kon Knueppel, who notched a career-high 30 points. Tre Mann added 20, while Miles Bridges recorded 14 points, 12 rebounds, and seven assists. The Heat set the tone early, putting up a franchise-record 53 points in the first quarter — marking the second-highest opening quarter in NBA history. At one point, Miami held a 26-point lead with 9:20 remaining in the second, 64-38. Charlotte mounted a furious comeback with a 27-2 run to narrow the gap to 66-65, but the Hornets never took the lead. Miami ultimately pulled away in the fourth quarter to secure the win.
Alvarado Lifts Pelicans to First Win, 116-112 Over Hornets NEW ORLEANS — Jose Alvarado buried a clutch three-pointer with 16 seconds left to give the New Orleans Pelicans their first win of the season, holding off the Charlotte Hornets 116-112 on Tuesday night. Trey Murphy III led the Pelicans with 21 points, while Alvarado came off the bench to score 18 and hit the game-winner. Saddiq Bey added 17 points as New Orleans snapped its six-game skid. The win left Brooklyn as the only team in the league still searching for its first victory. The Pelicans were without star forward Zion Williamson, who is sidelined with a strained hamstring. Miles Bridges paced Charlotte with 22 points, and rookie Kon Knueppel posted a double-double of 20 points and 12 rebounds. The Hornets were again without LaMelo Ball, missing his second straight game due to an ankle injury. Charlotte took control early in the second half with an 11-0 run and maintained its lead until Alvarado’s decisive shot in the final seconds. Rookie Derik Queen sealed the win with a late steal, and Murphy hit two free throws to extend the margin before Bey closed the scoring from the line.
Hornets Catch Fire Early, Cruise Past Jazz The Hornets stumbled out of the gate as Utah jumped ahead early, but it didn’t take long for Charlotte to find its rhythm. Three consecutive possessions ended in three-pointers — courtesy of Collin Sexton, Kon Knueppel, and Sion James — sparking a run that shifted momentum completely. After both teams traded baskets for a stretch, the Jazz hit a cold spell, and the Hornets capitalized to build a sizable lead. Knueppel knocked down a pair of triples in the second quarter to extend the margin, which Charlotte carried comfortably into halftime. The third quarter wasn’t as crisp, as the Hornets eased off the throttle with a large cushion. A few careless fouls and stagnant possessions gave Utah some life, trimming the deficit to 16 late in the period. But KJ Simpson’s steal in the final seconds set up a missed layup that Moussa Diabate cleaned up for a tip-in, giving Charlotte a boost heading into the fourth quarter.
Hornets Let Late Lead Slip in Loss to Pelicans The first half was a roller coaster for Charlotte. The Hornets came out strong behind Kon Knueppel’s early scoring and hot perimeter shooting, quickly building a comfortable lead that hinted at another routine win over a struggling opponent. But once the rotations shifted, everything changed. The Pelicans found their rhythm from beyond the arc while the Hornets’ offense sputtered. Turnovers piled up, transition defense broke down, and an 18-point swing erased Charlotte’s advantage by the middle of the second quarter. The Hornets regrouped slightly before halftime but still trailed heading into the break. Charlotte carried some of that late-half energy into the third, retaking the lead and holding it for much of the second half. But the final minutes told a different story. The offense completely stalled, producing as many turnovers as made shots in the fourth quarter. The Hornets went scoreless after the 3:41 mark, leaving the door wide open. Jose Alvarado buried a step-back three to put New Orleans on top, and Trey Murphy III iced the game at the line. A hurried three-point attempt from Miles Bridges came up short, sealing another frustrating late-game collapse for Charlotte.