South Charlotte Today

LaMelo Ball and Brandon Miller made their return to the Charlotte Hornets lineup after missing three games due to injuries. Despite their efforts, each scoring 24 points, the Hornets fell short against the Cleveland Cavaliers with a 115-105 loss at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse. This defeat marks Charlotte's tenth consecutive loss and sixth straight on the road.

Ball, recovering from left ankle and right wrist injuries, scored seven points in the first quarter and ended with 24 points on 7-of-20 shooting. He also contributed four assists and three rebounds over 33 minutes of play. Miller, who had been sidelined with a left ankle injury, matched Ball's point total by shooting 8-of-14 from the field and hitting six out of ten three-point attempts.

The game took a decisive turn early in the second quarter when Charlotte missed its initial four shots and committed three turnovers. This allowed Cleveland to go on a 13-2 run, extending their lead significantly. Evan Mobley played a key role during this stretch for Cleveland.

Nick Smith Jr., who saw limited action in December, delivered a strong performance off the bench for Charlotte. He scored a season-high 18 points while also contributing five rebounds, two assists, and one block in just 20 minutes.

Miles Bridges and Mark Williams continued their consistent performances despite Ball and Miller's return. Both players nearly achieved double-doubles with Bridges scoring 11 points along with eight rebounds, while Williams added another 11 points alongside nine rebounds.

Hornets Head Coach Charles Lee acknowledged the team's struggles: “I thought that we started a little slow... But we’re fighting, we’re competing." On Nick Smith Jr.'s performance he said: “He took full advantage of his opportunity to play today."

Looking ahead, Charlotte will host Pride Night against the Phoenix Suns on January 7th at home.