Hornets get healthy, blast Pelicans

LaMelo Ball and Miles Bridges returned from injuries to drop 25 and 22 points, respectively, as the host Charlotte Hornets drilled the New Orleans Pelicans 123-92 on Saturday night.

Seth Curry tallied 16 points off the bench and Josh Green supplied 13 points for Charlotte. Despite getting Ball and Bridges back, the Hornets were without center Mark Williams, who was managing a right foot injury.

Moussa Diabate logged 29 minutes off the bench to help fill in for Williams and put up nine points and 13 boards.

Zion Williamson, who hadn't played since Jan. 17, racked up 28 points and 11 rebounds for the Pelicans, who lost their second game in a row following a season-best four-game winning streak. Williamson made 11 of 20 shots from the field.

Trey Murphy III added 16 points, Jordan Hawkins had 14 and Yves Missi provided 12, but the Pelicans couldn't overcome 38.1 percent shooting from the floor. They fell to 4-18 in road games this season.

The Hornets outscored New Orleans 63-24 from beyond the arc. Charlotte made 21 of 50 3-point attempts, with Ball and Curry each draining four triples.

Bridges, who sat out one night earlier with back spasms when the Hornets lost to the Portland Trail Blazers, went 8-for-13 from the field. Charlotte shot 50 percent overall as a team.

Ball didn't play on Friday night because of a wrist sprain. Curry (ankle) was also inactive against Portland.

The Hornets were in full control on Saturday, leading by as many as 33.

It was only a 13-point game late in the third quarter, but Bridges connected on a trey to ignite a 12-0 run that put Charlotte up 91-66 with 39.1 seconds to go until the final frame. The Hornets had a 93-68 cushion after three quarters.

Bridges and Ball combined for 27 points in the first half, lifting Charlotte to a 63-45 lead at the break.

Both teams were playing the second leg of a back-to-back.

--Field Level Media