LOS ANGELES (AP) – Gordon Hayward got the equalizer on a field goal call against LeBron James with 6.3 seconds to play, and the Charlotte Hornets held off the Los Angeles Lakers 134-130 on Friday for just their second win in 11 games.
James scored 18 of his 34 points in leading a thrilling fourth-quarter comeback by the Lakers, who overcame a 16-point deficit in the second half. James scored or assisted on 11 straight points in the final 2:30, and he drove for the tying layup with 30 seconds left.
After Hayward got an offensive rebound and drew the goalie call, James fed Dennis Schröder for an open-angle 3-point attempt – but the German guard missed, and P.J. Washington hit two free throws to ice the Hornets’ second win on their six-game streak. trip
Washington scored 24 points, while LaMelo Ball had 23 points, eight rebounds and eight assists against his hometown team. Terry Rozier also scored 23 in his return from a two-game absence with a bruised right hip as the Hornets earned their first road win over the Lakers in five tries since January 2018.
Austin Reaves scored 20 points and Russell Westbrook had 17 for Los Angeles, which has lost three straight.
Anthony Davis missed his fourth straight game with what the Lakers earlier Friday called a strain injury in his right foot. There is no timetable for the return of the eight-time All-Star big man, who was playing great before his latest major injury in three seasons of poor health.
Thomas Bryant had eight points and 13 rebounds for the Lakers before leaving the court with 3:16 to play clutching his right shoulder in obvious pain. Bryant, who returned to watch the final possessions, has been solid as Los Angeles’ starting center in Davis’ absence, and a major injury would be another major blow to the rotation.
Restricted free agent Miles Bridges participated in the game and sat directly under the basket on the Hornets’ end of the court. He gave high-fives to his former teammates during pregame warmups.
Bridges, who played his first four NBA seasons with Charlotte, pleaded no contest to a domestic violence charge last month in Los Angeles, receiving probation and no jail time. ESPN reported earlier Friday that the Hornets are closing in on a new contract with Bridges, who will likely receive a lengthy suspension that cannot begin until he is signed by a team.
“Yeah, we’re not going to comment on that right now,” coach Steve Clifford said when asked before the game about the report.
Two days after being run off the same court by the Clippers shortly before halftime, Charlotte jumped out to an 88-72 lead over the Lakers early in the third quarter with a 21-5 run right after halftime. James began a comeback in the fourth quarter, cutting the Hornets’ lead to 114-111 on a driving layup with 4:51 to play.
Just before Hayward’s crucial last-minute play, Reaves stole a pass from Ball — but the Lakers somehow couldn’t win a 4-on-1 break.
Hornets: Bridges was the Hornets’ leading scorer last season. …Dennis Smith Jr. has been out since Nov. 23 with a left ankle sprain, but he’s close to returning after participating in warmups to test his ankle.
Lakers: Davis is the NBA’s 11th-leading scorer with 27.4 points per game. Coach Darvin Ham said the latest injury is “very hard” on Davis, who began the season stating his goal to play in all 82 games. … Reaves (ankle) and Westbrook (foot) returned after missing LA’s last game. … The Lakers had a sellout crowd for the first time since Nov. 6, which was 10 home games ago.
Lakers: In Dallas on Sunday to open a five-game road trip ending in Charlotte on January 2.
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