Luka Doncic poured in 38 points and the visiting Los Angeles Lakers pulled away from the Charlotte Hornets in a 121-111 victory Monday night.
Doncic made 14 of 28 shots from the field, making five 3-pointers. He has played in seven games this season, with this his fourth-highest point total.
Austin Reaves added 24 points and Rui Hachimura had 21 points for the Lakers, who’ve won five of their six road outings. Deandre Ayton added 14 points and Marcus Smart had 13 points.
The Lakers tightened up defensively after the first quarter, when Charlotte put up 40 points, and ended up shooting 50 percent from the field.
Miles Bridges hit seven 3-point shots on the way to 34 points for the Hornets, who suffered their third consecutive loss and their sixth setback in their last seven games.
Kon Knueppel posted 19 points and Collin Sexton, who missed Friday’s game at Miami with a neck strain, supplied 13 points, but Charlotte committed 22 turnovers despite shooting 52.1 percent from the floor. The Hornets were without point guard LaMelo Ball again as he remains out with an ankle ailment.
After trailing 115-101 with 2:32 remaining, the Hornets closed the score to 117-111 before Charlotte’s Sion James was off the mark on a 3-point attempt with 11 seconds to play. Doncic added two free throws and, following a turnover, Smart hit two more foul shots.
Charlotte’s 20-for-22 shooting on free throws allowed it to stay within range. Knueppel, a rookie, nearly had a triple-double as he pulled in 10 rebounds to go with nine assists.
The Lakers outscored Charlotte 24-9 to begin the second half, building an 89-72 lead. The Hornets pulled within 103-93 with 6:15 remaining courtesy of an 8-0 run capped by Bridges’ 3-pointer.
Los Angeles outscored the Hornets 9-3 across the final 2:30 of the first half for a 65-63 halftime edge on Reaves’ basket at the buzzer.
