Miles Bridges scored 29 points and Kon Knueppel added 24 as the Charlotte Hornets, despite playing without guard LaMelo Ball, whipped the visiting Utah Jazz 126-103 on Sunday night.
Moussa Diabate provided 17 points and 12 rebounds, Sion James was inserted into the starting lineup and scored 15 points, Tre Mann provided 13 points off the bench, and Collin Sexton added 10 points and 12 assists as the Hornets halted a three-game losing streak. Charlotte was perfect on 22 free-throw attempts, including Bridges going 12-for-12 at the line.
Lauri Markkanen, who was 12-for-28 from the field, pumped in 29 points but the Jazz lost their third game in a row. Keyonte George’s 25 points and Taylor Hendricks’ 14 points weren’t enough as Utah fell to 0-3 in road games while playing the second game of a five-game trip.
The Jazz shot 21.9% on 3-pointers (7-for-32). The Hornets overcame 15 turnovers.
Ball has been dealing with an ankle ailment and logged 33 minutes Saturday night vs. the Minnesota Timberwolves. Sexton filled in as a distributor and there was enough perimeter shooting to keep the Hornets in control Sunday night.
Knueppel, who had 17 first-half points, drained four 3-pointers after going 1-for-8 from long range a night earlier. Bridges, James and Mann all connected on three 3s as part of the team’s 18 total successful 3-pointers. Eight players made at least one 3.
The Hornets got cranked up by midway through the first quarter, outscoring Utah 23-9 across the last 6:12 of the quarter for a 39-25 lead. That was sparked by Knueppel’s four-point play.
The lead grew to 60-32 with more than 5 1/2 minutes left in the second quarter. Four Hornets connected on 3-pointers in the second quarter, with Knueppel hitting two.
Charlotte center Ryan Kalkbrenner’s playing status was questionable earlier in the day, but he was on the court for 22 minutes and had game highs of four seals and four blocked shots despite scoring only two points.
