Wednesday night’s game (Jan. 26) at Indiana was the fourth and final game of the season series between the Hornets and Pacers.
Judging from the previous three games, decided by a combined 12 points, this was going to be a close and competitive fight. However, the visitors had other ideas and unleashed the showdown with an offensive night for the record books.
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Winning by a 32-point margin, Charlotte swept the season series against Indiana for the second time in franchise history and the first since the 2015-16 season.
With their dominant performance at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, the Hornets set and broke multiple records. Here’s a look at all the main ones:
158: Franchise Record Point Count
At the final buzzer, the Hornets had finished with a franchise-record scoring total of 158 points.
Over the course of the game, the team averaged nearly 40 points per quarter as they did most of their damage in the second half.
The @hornets beat the Pacers 158-126, including dropping 87 in the second half.
It was him…
– Most points in Hornets history
– Most points allowed by the Pacers since joining the NBA
– Most points by any team in a second half since January 1991 (Rockets-Nuggets) pic.twitter.com/TmuzaMIHOY— Statistics and information from ESPN (@ESPNStatsInfo) January 27, 2023
The total was the most scored by the Hornets in regulation time since 1993 when they accumulated 141 against the Los Angeles Lakers. Overall, including overtime, the 158 points is 15 more than the previous franchise record the team had recorded in Houston on Nov. 26, 2023.
45: The plus-minus of LaMelo Ball
LaMelo Ball played 38 minutes, recording his fourth triple-double of the season while shooting the ball with remarkable efficiency: 11 of 16 from the field, 3 of 4 from the ground from 3 points and 4 of 5 from the free throw line.
That said, the standout number on his stat line was his game-high plus-minus of +45 with the next closest member of the Hornets registering a +27.
Ball is only the fourth player to @NBA history with five triple-doubles before his 21st birthday. He joins Luka Doncic (21), Magic Johnson (7) and LeBron James (5).#AllFly https://t.co/7uKxnsTpAH
— Charlotte Hornets PR (@HornetsPR) January 27, 2023
In terms of triple-doubles, he is now tied with Anthony Mason for the most triple-doubles in a single Hornets season. Overall, his tally of five career triple-doubles is tied for second in franchise history with Nic Batum and Larry Johnson. Now just follow Mason’s count of seven.
10: Triples by Kelly Oubre Jr.
While the starters, led by Ball, combined for 89 points, the Hornets’ bench was led by Kelly Oubre Jr., who scored 39 of the reserves’ 69 points.
The 39 points, just one of the highest of his career, included 10 3-pointers in just 15 attempts. The 10 made 3-pointers tied a franchise record for a player and helps him become the fifth bench player in NBA history knock down at least 10 3s.
Here’s a look at his shot chart, there’s sure to be a lot of green there.
His 10 3-pointers were a huge part of the team. tying a franchise record of 24 three-pointers for the game. Having scored 37 in November 2023, he becomes the first player in Hornets history to have multiple games of 35 or more off the bench.