Charlotte Hornets: 1 Stud and 1 dud from Hornets win against Indiana

One stud on the Charlotte Hornets: LaMelo Ball

This should come as no surprise. In the third quarter, LaMelo Ball flipped a switch and decided that if he had anything to say about it, he was not having a repeat of the play-in game happen while he was on the court.

Ball led the team with 31 points, 7 assists, 9 rebounds, and 2 steals. He became unconscious from three, knocking down 7 of 9 three-pointers to lead the comeback against the Pacers. His basketball instincts were off the charts as he lead a defensive charge to force Indiana to make mistakes that ultimately lead to Charlotte getting back in the game.

In the game preview, I wrote this.

"LaMelo Ball is now officially entering year two and expectation for him is through the roof. Seeing how the second-year point guard takes command of his team in a matchup like this should have eyes glued to the television. If this is truly Ball’s team, then there is no better opportunity to take command of the ship than tonight."

It’s safe to say that Ball took command of the ship during this game. Even with Sabonis dominating the game as he did, there was a stretch where Ball was the best player on the court. Showcasing just why he was the rookie of the year and why the Hornets drafted him with the third overall pick.

This could be a very big moment for Ball and the Hornets. This is the type of win that helps build a team’s culture and can elevate a player to the next level. Ball ascended to that level on this night, and hopefully, he can stay up there.