LaMelo, Miller torch Memphis as Hornets cruise to 124-101 win

The Hornets don’t just beat Memphis — they put the Grizzlies in a vice early and keep tightening it until the game is long gone. Charlotte wins 124-101 behind a blistering night from LaMelo Ball and a poised, efficient attack that never really lets Memphis breathe. The Grizzlies make a brief first-quarter push, but every time they threaten to climb back in, Charlotte answers with a cleaner look, a harder cut, or another shot falling from the arc.

It starts with a jolt. Memphis gets the game to 6-8, but Charlotte flips the script with a 13-0 run sparked by J. Green’s running 3-pointer and M. Diabaté’s playmaking touch. Suddenly it’s 19-8, and the Hornets are dictating pace. Memphis does claw back with an 11-0 response of its own — T. Gibson’s 24-foot three trims the margin to one possession at 24-23 — but that’s about as close as it gets. Charlotte is already showing the shot-making edge that will define the night.

From there, the Hornets start stacking possessions on top of possessions. LaMelo Ball is the tone-setter, finishing with 29 points, 4 assists and 7 threes in just 29 minutes, and he’s doing it with that effortless blend of deep range and pace. Brandon Miller keeps the floor stretched too, adding 22 points, 5 rebounds and 5 threes, including a running dunk that caps an 11-0 second-quarter burst and pushes Charlotte from 48-43 to 59-43. That sequence matters because it turns a competitive first half into a game Memphis now has to chase with no margin for error. Charlotte heads into halftime up 12, then comes out and buries the door with another extended run.

The third quarter is where the separation really becomes obvious. Charlotte opens on an 11-0 run to stretch the lead from 62-51 to 71-51, with Kon Knueppel finishing a driving layup to keep the pressure on. Later in the period, R. Kalkbrenner’s cutting dunk — set up by C. White’s sixth assist — extends the lead from 82-71 to 91-71, and now the Hornets are up 20 with a quarter left. That’s the turning point in the practical sense: Memphis has enough talent to score, but Charlotte’s offense keeps answering every small Grizzlies push with a bigger one.

And the fourth quarter never becomes a real contest. The closing minutes are less about suspense and more about Charlotte’s control. C. White keeps slicing into the lane for reverse and straight-line layups. G. Jackson gets a finger roll at the rim. W. Clayton Jr. splashes a 26-foot three. J. Small finishes a running dunk. Then Kalkbrenner punctuates it with a cut to the basket for the final score, 124-101. Charlotte’s biggest lead reaches 26, and the Hornets are never threatened after the third quarter run.

The stat line at the top tells the story, but the shape of the game is what stands out: Charlotte shoots with confidence, moves the ball, and wins the possession game on both ends. Moussa Diabaté quietly stacks 11 points and 14 rebounds while helping Charlotte dominate the glass and second-chance momentum. For Memphis, the offense had individual bright spots — but not enough resistance on defense to slow the Hornets’ tempo or protect the paint. Charlotte leaves with a convincing home win, while Memphis leaves with another reminder that if it can’t contain the first wave, the game can get away fast. This one bolsters Charlotte’s momentum and gives them a blueprint: when Ball is cooking, Miller is spacing, and Diabaté is cleaning the glass, they can bury teams before the fourth quarter even matters.