LaMelo Ball Scores Career-High 50, But Hornets Fall to Bucks

LaMelo Ball Scores Career-High 50, But Hornets Fall to Bucks

MILWAUKEE – LaMelo Ball delivered a historic performance on Saturday night, becoming the third-youngest player in NBA history, and the first in Charlotte Hornets history, to score 50 points and dish out 10 assists in a game. However, despite his remarkable achievement, the Hornets fell short in a 125-119 loss to the Milwaukee Bucks.

Ball, just 23 years old, was quiet in the first half, scoring 10 points, but erupted after the break, dropping 40 points in the second half. He finished the game with 17-of-38 shooting from the field, including 6-of-17 from beyond the arc, and converted 10-of-13 free throws.

Alongside Ball, Brandon Miller added 32 points for the Hornets, marking another strong performance. The duo of Ball and Miller became the fourth pair of players aged 23 or younger to each score 30 or more points in consecutive games, joining the ranks of iconic duos like Russell Westbrook and Kevin Durant, who accomplished the feat for the Oklahoma City Thunder in 2012.

For the Bucks, Giannis Antetokounmpo led the way with 32 points and 11 rebounds, while Damian Lillard contributed 31 points. The Bucks, who finished a 4-0 homestand, have now won six of their last seven games.

Milwaukee controlled the game for most of the fourth quarter, opening the period with a 14-5 run to take a 110-90 lead. But the Hornets mounted a late push, cutting the deficit to just 121-119 on Miller’s three-pointer with 15 seconds remaining.

However, Taurean Prince responded with two free throws for the Bucks, putting them up by four, and Charlotte missed two critical three-point attempts on their next possession. Antetokounmpo sealed the win with two more free throws, giving the Bucks a 125-119 victory.