Luka Doncic drops 38 points as Lakers beat Hornets to clinch sixth win in last seven games

Luka Doncic scored 38 points and led the Los Angeles Lakers to a 121-111 victory over the Charlotte Hornets on Monday night. Rui Hachimura added 21 points, including 13 in a crucial third quarter, while Austin Reaves chipped in 24 as the Lakers notched their sixth win in the last seven games.

Miles Bridges paced Charlotte with 34 points and seven 3-pointers, while rookie Kon Knueppel narrowly missed a triple-double with 19 points, 10 rebounds, and nine assists. The Hornets once again struggled without top scorers LaMelo Ball and Brandon Miller.



After a tight first half, the Lakers took control in the third quarter, outscoring Charlotte 31-15. With the Hornets focusing on trapping Doncic, Hachimura found space to hit three 3-pointers that helped Los Angeles pull away. Doncic dazzled the crowd with five 3s, flashy assists, and a highlight two-handed dunk through traffic. He also delighted fans when he sank a three-quarter-court shot moments after a timeout in the fourth quarter.


Charlotte briefly rallied to cut the lead to eight with just over four minutes remaining, but Doncic responded with a strong drive and three-point play to restore momentum. Marcus Smart then sealed the game with a clutch 3-pointer, extending the Lakers’ lead to 14 points.


The Hornets opened well, with Bridges scoring 16 in the first quarter, but their offense stalled in the second half. Unable to contain Doncic’s steady scoring and playmaking, Charlotte fell short once again, while the Lakers continued their impressive early-season form.