Hornets vs. Rockets Match Player Stats: Alperen Şengün, Jalen Green heroics in vain as LaMelo Ball leads in the Hornets win

Natasha Bose

LaMelo Ball's impressive comeback, paired with Grant Williams' clutch 3-pointer, helped the Charlotte Hornets secure a thrilling victory over the Houston Rockets.

LaMelo Ball made an impressive comeback, scoring 34 points and dishing out 11 assists after his ankle injury, while Grant Williams sank a crucial 3-pointer with 40 seconds on the clock, leading the Charlotte Hornets to a 110-105 victory over the Houston Rockets on Wednesday night.

Jalen Green quickly put up five points to even the score, but Williams responded with a step-back 3, pushing the Hornets ahead 106-103. Ball, playing his first regular-season game since January 26, followed up with two free throws, sealing the win.

LaMelo Ball leads the Hornets to an 18-POINT COMEBACK 110-105 win over the Rockets🔥 He's back 🙌 pic.twitter.com/qLlio84fgv
— Basketball Forever (@bballforever_) October 24, 2024

Green led the Rockets with 28 points, and Alperen Sengun contributed 25 points and 18 rebounds in his return, having missed the last 19 games of the previous season due to a severe ankle sprain.

The Hornets outscored the Rockets 61-45 in the second half after Houston managed to establish a 60-49 lead at the break. Struggles in shooting plagued the Rockets during the second half, with them hitting just 15 out of 45 attempts, only 33% from the field.

“I think we were a little sloppy in general in the first half, but definitely in the second half,” said Rockets head coach Ime Udoka. “But the things we did when the shots weren’t falling was continue to guard, and we let go of the rope as far as that in the second half and gave up 61 (points).”