Hornets Topple Kings With Barrage of 3-Pointers

Charlotte rallies from halftime deficit behind Lonzo Ball's 30 points and 11 combined 3-pointers from LaMelo Ball and Kon Knueppel.

Mar. 12, 2026 at 10:25am

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In a matchup of teams coming off wins the previous night, the visiting Charlotte Hornets rallied from a halftime deficit to defeat the Sacramento Kings 117-109 behind a barrage of 3-pointers. Lonzo Ball scored a team-high 30 points, while LaMelo Ball and Kon Knueppel combined for 11 3-pointers and 54 points. The Hornets outscored the Kings 57-24 from beyond the arc.

Why it matters

The win extends Charlotte's recent hot streak, as they've now won 8 of their last 10 games. Meanwhile, the loss snaps Sacramento's modest two-game winning streak as they continue to battle for playoff positioning in the Western Conference.

The details

Down by 5 at halftime, the Hornets tied the game at 73-73 in the 3rd quarter before going on an 11-2 run to take the lead for good. Miles Bridges had 9 of his 26 points during that key stretch. Charlotte was able to maintain a double-digit lead for much of the 4th quarter, thanks in large part to the outside shooting of Lonzo Ball, LaMelo Ball, and Kon Knueppel.

  • The game was played on Wednesday, March 12, 2026.

The players

Lonzo Ball

A 30-year-old point guard for the Charlotte Hornets who scored a team-high 30 points in the win.

LaMelo Ball

Lonzo's younger brother, a guard for the Hornets who combined with Kon Knueppel to make 11 3-pointers and score 54 total points.

Kon Knueppel

A guard for the Hornets who made 5 3-pointers and scored 24 points to complement LaMelo Ball's big night.

Miles Bridges

A forward for the Hornets who scored 9 of his 26 points during a key 11-2 run in the 3rd quarter that gave Charlotte the lead for good.

DeMar DeRozan

A veteran guard for the Sacramento Kings who scored a season-high 39 points in the losing effort.

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What they’re saying

“We knew we had to come out strong in the second half and make some adjustments. The guys really stepped up and made some big plays to get us the win.”

— Lonzo Ball, Hornets Guard (Hornets Post-Game Interview)

“It's tough to lose a game like this at home, but credit to Charlotte, they really shot the ball well from deep. We'll need to regroup and get ready for our next one.”

— DeMar DeRozan, Kings Guard (Kings Post-Game Interview)

What’s next

The Hornets will look to continue their strong play when they host the Los Angeles Clippers on Friday, March 14th. The Kings will try to bounce back when they travel to face the Portland Trail Blazers on Sunday, March 16th.

The takeaway

Charlotte's ability to get hot from 3-point range and make timely runs proved to be the difference, as they were able to overcome a halftime deficit on the road against a Kings team that has been tough to beat at home this season.