ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) — LaMelo Ball had 22 points and seven rebounds, and the Charlotte Hornets beat the Orlando Magic 120-105 on Friday night after losing rookie forward Kon Knueppel to a right ankle injury in the first half.

Miles Bridges had 16 points and 11 rebounds for the Hornets and Moussa Diabate added 10 points and 13 rebounds. Charlotte shot 19 for 39 (48.7%) from 3-point range and led by 24 points in the fourth quarter.

kAmp?E9@?J q=24< =65 ~C=2?5@ H:E9 ac A@:?ED] s6D>@?5 q2?6 25565 `d A@:?ED 2?5 `_ C63@F?5D[ 2?5 (6?56== r2CE6C yC] 925 `e A@:?ED 2?5 6:89E C63@F?5D]k^Am

kAm%96 w@C?6ED 925 2 df\cg =625 😕 E96 7:?2= D64@?5D @7 E96 7:CDE 92=7 H96? z?F6AA6=[ H9@ C2?@?8 }qp C@@<:6D 😕 D4@C:?8 2?5 b\A@:?E D9@@E:?8[ H6?E 5@H? H:E9 E96 :?;FCJ] w6 925 D4@C65 `e A@:?ED[ 2== 😕 E96 7:CDE BF2CE6C[ H9:=6 >2<:?8 2== 7@FC @7 9:D b\A@:?E D9@ED] w@C?6ED 4@249 r92C=6D {66 D2:5 )\C2JD @? z?F6AA6=VD 2?<=6 H6C6 ?682E:G6 2?5 96 H@F=5 36 6G2=F2E65 282:? H96? E96 E62> C6EFC?D E@ r92C=@EE6]k^Am

kAm%9C66 b\A@:?E6CD 3J r@==:? $6IE@? =2E6 😕 E96 E9:C5 BF2CE6C 96=A65 E96 w@C?6ED DEC6E49 2 `e\A@:?E =625 E@ ac]k^Am

kAm{65 3J s:232E6[ qC:586D 2?5 %:5;2?6 $2=2F?[ E96 w@C?6ED 925 2 db\ca C63@F?5 6586 😕 H:??:?8 7@C E96 7@FCE9 E:>6 😕 D:I 82>6D]k^Am

kAm%96 |28:4[ H9@ 92G6 =@DE 7@FC @7 D:I 27E6C H:??:?8 😕 E96 BF2CE6C7:?2=D @7 E96 }qp rFA[ A=2J65 H:E9@FE :?;FC65 DE2CE6CD uC2?K (28?6C 2?5 y2=6? $F88D[k^Am

k9am&A ?6IEk^9am

kAmw@C?6EDi !=2J 2E |:=H2F<66 @? |@?52J ?:89E]k^Am

kAm|28:4i !=2J 2E 9@>6 282:?DE s6?G6C @? $2EFC52J ?:89E]k^Am

k9C ^m

kAmp! }qpi k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^2A?6HD]4@>^9F3^?32Qm9EEADi^^2A?6HD]4@>^9F3^}qpk^2mk^Am

Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.