AP

Ball, Oubre lead Hornets past Kings to halt 8-game skid

Dec 19, 2022, 8:11 AM | Updated: 10:42 pm

Charlotte Hornets guard LaMelo Ball (1) drives past Sacramento Kings guard De'Aaron Fox (5) during ...

Charlotte Hornets guard LaMelo Ball (1) drives past Sacramento Kings guard De'Aaron Fox (5) during the first quarter of an NBA basketball game in Sacramento, Calif., Monday, Dec. 19, 2022. (AP Photo/Randall Benton)

(AP Photo/Randall Benton)


              Charlotte Hornets center Mason Plumlee (24) and Sacramento Kings forward Domantas Sabonis (10) battle for a rebound during the first quarter of an NBA basketball game in Sacramento, Calif., Monday, Dec. 19, 2022. (AP Photo/Randall Benton)
            
              Charlotte Hornets center Mason Plumlee guards Sacramento Kings guard De'Aaron Fox (5) during the first quarter of an NBA basketball game in Sacramento, Calif., Monday, Dec. 19, 2022. (AP Photo/Randall Benton)
            
              Charlotte Hornets forward P.J. Washington (25) shoots over Sacramento Kings defenders during the first quarter of an NBA basketball game in Sacramento, Calif., Monday, Dec. 19, 2022. (AP Photo/Randall Benton)
            
              Charlotte Hornets forward Jalen McDaniels (6) is guarded by Sacramento Kings forward Domantas Sabonis (10) during the first quarter of an NBA basketball game in Sacramento, Calif., Monday, Dec. 19, 2022. (AP Photo/Randall Benton)
            
              Charlotte Hornets guard Theo Maledon, right, is guarded by Sacramento Kings guard Davion Mitchell during the first quarter of an NBA basketball game in Sacramento, Calif., Monday, Dec. 19, 2022. (AP Photo/Randall Benton)
            
              Charlotte Hornets guard Kelly Oubre Jr. dunks the ball over Sacramento Kings forward Domantas Sabonis during the first quarter of an NBA basketball game in Sacramento, Calif., Monday, Dec. 19, 2022. (AP Photo/Randall Benton)
            
              Charlotte Hornets guard Kelly Oubre Jr. (12) lays the ball up past Sacramento Kings forward Harrison Barnes during the first quarter of an NBA basketball game in Sacramento, Calif., Monday, Dec. 19, 2022. (AP Photo/Randall Benton)
            
              Charlotte Hornets guard LaMelo Ball (1) drives past Sacramento Kings guard De'Aaron Fox (5) during the first quarter of an NBA basketball game in Sacramento, Calif., Monday, Dec. 19, 2022. (AP Photo/Randall Benton)

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — LaMelo Ball scored 16 of his 23 points in the fourth quarter and the Charlotte Hornets held off the Sacramento Kings 125-119 on Monday night to stop an eight-game losing streak.

“He has great courage,” Hornets coach Steve Clifford said. “He’s confident and he badly wants to win. You are never going to have to worry about his competitive spirit.”

Kelly Oubre Jr. had 31 points for the Hornets (8-23), who won for the second time in 11 games.

“Great player. Athletic,” Ball said. “He’s a two-way player that gets it done on both sides.”

Ball had only three points at halftime but broke loose in the second half. The third-year guard added 12 assists and five rebounds before fouling out with 34.1 seconds left.

It was Ball’s seventh game of the season. He missed the first 13 with an ankle injury.

Gordon Hayward added 19 points, Mason Plumlee finished with 15 and Nick Richards scored 14 for Charlotte.

De’Aaron Fox had 37 points for Sacramento (16-13). Domantas Sabonis scored a season-high 28 to go with 23 rebounds and seven assists for his third 20-point, 20-rebound performance of the season.

“Good reality check for us,” Kings coach Mike Brown said.

Keegan Murray and Harrison Barnes added 11 points apiece.

“This was definitely a learning experience for us,” Murray said.

Sacramento cut its deficit to two with 1:24 left on Fox’s layup. Charlotte responded with Hayward’s jumper and free throws by Oubre to seal it.

TIP-INS

Hornets: G Terry Rozier was ruled out before the game with a bruised right hip.

Kings: G Davion Mitchell returned after missing Friday’s game with a non-COVID-19 illness. … Barnes bruised his right quad and was ruled out after scoring 11 points. … Sacramento was 17 for 31 (54.8%) at the free throw line. The Kings on the season shoot 78.8%, which ranks 16th in the NBA.

“We didn’t lose because we didn’t make free throws,” Brown said. “Obviously, if we would have made free throws, we might have stolen the game, but the way we played, we didn’t deserve to win.”

UP NEXT

Hornets: At the Los Angeles Clippers on Wednesday.

Kings: Continue a six-game homestand Wednesday against the Los Angeles Lakers.

___

AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/NBA and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

Copyright © The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

AP

Associated Press

Ex-Packer Guion gets 1 year for domestic violence assault

GREEN BAY, Wis. (AP) — Former Green Bay Packers defensive tackle Letroy Guion was sentenced to one year in jail after pleading no contest in a domestic violence assault at his home last fall. Brown County Circuit Court Judge Thomas Walsh also ordered Guion on Tuesday to serve three years’ probation and complete a domestic […]

1 year ago

Joe Jarzynka...

Associated Press

Durant eager for Suns debut vs. Hornets after knee injury

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — Kevin Durant has been through quite a bit during his 15-year NBA career — but joining a new team midway through the season is a new one for the 13-time All-Star. The 34-year-old Durant doesn’t seem all that worried. Durant makes his highly anticipated Phoenix Suns debut on Wednesday night against […]

1 year ago

FILE - Miami Dolphins head coach Brian Flores stands on the sideline during the second half of an N...

Associated Press

Judge: NFL coach can press discrimination claims in court

NEW YORK (AP) — NFL Coach Brian Flores can pursue some of his discrimination claims against the league and its teams in court rather than through arbitration, a judge ruled Wednesday. The written decision by Judge Valerie Caproni in Manhattan was issued months after lawyers for the league tried to get the lawsuit moved to […]

1 year ago

Chicago Blackhawks goaltender Alex Stalock cools off in the first period during an NHL hockey game ...

Associated Press

Kane trade reinforces hard reality of Blackhawks rebuild

CHICAGO (AP) — After days of speculation, the harsh reality of the Chicago Blackhawks’ situation was reinforced by one move in a flurry of transactions ahead of the NHL trade deadline. Showtime is over, at least in Chicago, and a seemingly bright future is, well, way off in the distance. The reverberations of Chicago’s decision […]

1 year ago

FILE -  Yves Jean-Bart, president of the Haitian Football Federation, wearing a protective face mas...

Associated Press

Disgraced ex-Haitian soccer president announces he’s back

PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti (AP) — Haiti’s former soccer federation president whose lifetime ban from sport over sexual abuse allegations was overturned last month announced Wednesday that he is reclaiming his position. Yves Jean-Bart’s defiant announcement could lead to a standoff with FIFA, which already has appointed an emergency management committee to lead the Haitian Football Association […]

1 year ago

FILE - Green Bay Packers' Aaron Rodgers walks off the field after an NFL football game against the ...

Associated Press

Rodgers says decision on future will come ‘soon enough’

GREEN BAY, Wis. (AP) — Aaron Rodgers says he will make a decision on his future “soon enough” as the four-time MVP quarterback ponders whether to play next season and if his future remains with the Green Bay Packers. Rodgers, 39, discussed his future while speaking on an episode of the “Aubrey Marcus Podcast” that […]

1 year ago

Ball, Oubre lead Hornets past Kings to halt 8-game skid