With a three-game losing streak behind them, thanks to an immediate reversal of form on offense, the Los Angeles Lakers will look to gain some traction during a visit from the improved Charlotte Hornets on Thursday.
One day after a miserable shooting performance at Sacramento, the Lakers returned home Tuesday and shot 55.9% from 3-point range in a 141-116 victory over the Atlanta Hawks.
The team’s biggest scoring output in nearly a month, with LeBron James notching 31 points, 10 assists and nine rebounds, came after shooting 22.2% from distance against the Kings on Monday.
“This was probably one of the best responses that we’ve had this year,” said James. “Under the circumstances, the way we’ve been playing lately, to come out with this type of energy and effort on both sides of the floor was really good.”
Luka Doncic scored 27 points, including 5-of-9 shooting from 3-point range as Los Angeles improved to 5-7 since Dec. 20. Doncic played after scoring 42 points while nursing a sore quad Monday, while James played on consecutive nights for the first time this season.
“Obviously I wasn’t feeling 100%, but in my head, I always want to play,” Doncic said.
The Lakers’ Jake LaRavia and Marcus Smart combined for 33 points on 5-of-7 shooting from distance after going a combined 0 of 8 from long range against the Kings.
While Austin Reaves remains out for Los Angeles with a calf injury, Rui Hachimura returned from his own calf injury to score seven points with two rebounds in 18 minutes off the bench.
The Hornets are 3-4 in 2026, but two of the defeats were by one point and another was by two points. Also included in the stretch was a season-best 150-point victory on the road against the Utah Jazz.
“I think that we’re understanding what that competitive spirit needs to look like whenever you play,” Hornets head coach Charles Lee said. “I think that the collective commitment from the group to be great on both ends of the floor is there. I love the togetherness.
“I love how we’re just kind of building a great foundation of what we want to be and building our identity more and more each game.”
Charlotte enters the matchup coming off a 117-109 road loss to the Los Angeles Clippers on Monday. The Hornets led by one point with 7:18 remaining only to see Los Angeles rip off a 15-1 run to take control of the game.
LaMelo Ball scored 25 points in his homecoming and rookie Kon Knueppel added 18 on 8-of-12 shooting. Moussa Diabate had 13 points with 15 rebounds and Brandon Miller also had 13 points as the Hornets gave up 100 points for just the second time in six games.
The Lakers earned a 121-111 victory at Charlotte on Nov. 10 while in the middle of a 15-4 start to the season. Doncic scored 38 points and the Hornets’ Miles Bridges scored 34 points, which stands as his second-highest point total of the season.
–Field Level Media
