"Made the leap to a superstar": Miles Bridges praises LaMelo Ball after seventh 30-point game in last nine appearances
LaMelo Ball once again rose to the occasion for the Charlotte Hornets as they defeated the Washington Wizards 114-111 at the Spectrum Center in Charlotte. Ball led the way for the Hornets with 34 points, his seventh 30-point blast in a span of nine games.
Miles Bridges, who stepped up for the Charlotte Hornets, believes LaMelo Ball is on track for a second straight NBA All-Star Game appearance.
Bridges said:
“He’s just playing at an unbelievable level. He’s made the leap into a superstar.”
He also said Ball continues to prove his detractors wrong, despite copping criticism for his underwhelming defense and a penchant for flashy plays.
Bridges continued:
"All the NBA teams are obviously surprised 'coz he's a winner. He's showing it on the court, and I'm happy for him."
Miles Bridges explodes for Charlotte Hornets like LaMelo Ball
LaMelo Ball actually flirted with a triple-double as he too had 13 assists for the double-double and eight rebounds alongside one steal.
However, his shot selection might need a little more fine-tuning. He went 13-for-31 from the field and 6-for-16 from the three-point range to get his 34 points.
Bridges had a more efficient night for his own 30-point performance. He finished 11-for-18 from the field and 3-of-7 from deep for his 33 points alongside 10 rebounds and two steals.
Both Ball and Bridges combined for the game-turning point, when Ball found Bridges open for the go-ahead three with 47 seconds left.
Bridges and Mark Williams, though, settled for splits from the free throw line, keeping the Washington Wizards in the game, trailing 115-112. Daniel Gafford cut the Charlotte Hornets' lead down to one with 19 seconds remaining.
Ball swished two free throws with 17 seconds left to give the Hornets a more comfortable margin.
Kyle Kuzma tried to send the game to overtime, but he missed his long three-point attempt and Williams secured the rebound to seal the win.
Brandon Miller contributed 15 points on 50.0 % shooting, three assists, and one steal for the Hornets.
Bryce McGowens added 13 points on 4-of-5 shooting, three rebounds, one steal, and one block, while Mark Williams had 10 points, 15 rebounds, and three blocks.