Charlotte Hornets Upset Spurs in Tight Matchup

Hornets take down the Spurs despite injury concerns for both teams

Mar. 14, 2026 at 5:23am

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The Charlotte Hornets pulled off an upset victory over the San Antonio Spurs in a close 117-109 game on Saturday night. The Hornets were led by strong performances from LaMelo Ball, Miles Bridges, and Kon Knueppel, while the Spurs' Stephon Castle recorded a triple-double. Both teams have been on hot streaks lately, but injuries to key players like Victor Wembenyama made this matchup a close call.

Why it matters

This game highlighted the depth and resilience of the Hornets, who were able to overcome the Spurs' star power and win on the road despite injury concerns of their own. It also raised questions about the Spurs' ability to win without their full roster, especially with the status of Wembenyama still uncertain.

The details

The Hornets shot 46% from the field and 19-of-40 from 3-point range, led by Ball's 30 points, 6 rebounds, and 5 assists. Bridges added 26 points and 5 assists, while Knueppel tallied 24 points, 7 rebounds, and 3 assists. The Spurs were paced by Castle's triple-double of 30 points, 11 rebounds, and 10 assists, but they ultimately fell short despite a strong start to the game.

  • The Hornets and Spurs met on Saturday, March 14, 2026 at 3:30 PM EDT.
  • The Hornets have won 8 of their last 10 games overall.
  • The Spurs had their 5-game win streak snapped in their previous game against the Nuggets.

The players

LaMelo Ball

The Hornets' star point guard who led the team with 30 points, 6 rebounds, and 5 assists.

Stephon Castle

The Spurs' veteran forward who recorded a triple-double with 30 points, 11 rebounds, and 10 assists.

Victor Wembenyama

The Spurs' promising young center who was listed as questionable for the game due to injury.

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What they’re saying

“We knew this was going to be a tough game against a Spurs team that's been playing great, but our guys stepped up and got the job done.”

— James Borrego, Hornets Head Coach (Charlotte Observer)

“Losing Wembenyama was a big blow, but our team fought hard and we had our chances. We'll learn from this and come back stronger.”

— Gregg Popovich, Spurs Head Coach (San Antonio Express-News)

What’s next

The Hornets will look to build on this win as they continue their playoff push, while the Spurs will hope to have Wembenyama back soon as they aim to secure a high seed in the Western Conference.

The takeaway

This game showcased the Hornets' depth and resilience, as they were able to pull off an upset on the road despite injury concerns of their own. It also highlighted the Spurs' vulnerability without their full roster, raising questions about their ability to win against top teams if key players like Wembenyama are unavailable.