Game ID: 22500712
New Orleans Pelicans @ Charlotte Hornets
Monday, February 2, 2026 at 3:00 PM ET
Spectrum Center, Charlotte, NC
Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Final
CHA 23 26 29 24 102NOP 30 34 18 13 95
CHA vs NOP ScoutingCHA vs NOP Scouting
Welcome to the scouting desk. The coffee is cold, the film is play-by-play, and somebody has to explain what happened.
Every game has a hinge — a stretch where it was decided, usually while everyone was watching something else. Start where the evidence lives: the Lineups' face-offs say which five actually won their minutes; the Possessions ledger says who ran ahead of the night's own pace; the Shot Chart says where the points really came from, which is rarely where the highlights were. When all three agree, that is the story. When they don't — that is why this desk has a chair.
CHA availability going into 1/26 · 1 day's restOUT Hall missed 8 since 1/10, out tonight
OUT Mann missed 3 since 1/21, returns tonight: 12 min (95% of 13)
OUT McNeeley missed 8 since 1/10, out tonight
CHA availability going into 1/28 · 1 day's restOUT Hall missed 9 since 1/10, out tonight
OUT McNeeley missed 9 since 1/10, returns tonight: 6 min (51% of 12)
BACK Mann back 1/26 after 3, 12 min since (95% of 13)
CHA availability going into 1/29 · back-to-backOUT Hall missed 10 since 1/10, out tonight
BACK Mann back 1/26 after 3, 8 min since (60% of 13)
BACK McNeeley back 1/28 after 9, 6 min since (51% of 12)
CHA availability going into 1/31 · 1 day's restOUT Hall missed 11 since 1/10, out tonight
BACK Mann back 1/26 after 3, 8 min since (60% of 13)
BACK McNeeley back 1/28 after 9, 6 min since (51% of 12)
CHA availability going into 2/02 · 1 day's restOUT Hall missed 12 since 1/10, out tonight
OUT Mann missed 2 since 1/29, out tonight
OUT McNeeley missed 2 since 1/29, out tonight
CHA availability going into 2/05 · 2 days' restOUT Hall missed 13 since 1/10, out tonight
OUT Salaün missed 2 since 1/31, out tonight
OUT Mann missed 3 since 1/29, returns tonight: 17 min (133% of 13)
OUT McNeeley missed 3 since 1/29, out tonight
CHA availability going into 2/07 · 1 day's restOUT Hall missed 14 since 1/10, out tonight
OUT Salaün missed 3 since 1/31, out tonight
OUT McNeeley missed 4 since 1/29, out tonight
BACK Mann back 2/05 after 3, 17 min since (133% of 13)
NEW Diabaté 26 to 31 min over the last 5
CHA availability going into 2/09 · 1 day's restOUT White missed 2 since 2/05, out tonight
OUT Hall missed 15 since 1/10, out tonight
OUT Salaün missed 4 since 1/31, out tonight
OUT McNeeley missed 5 since 1/29, out tonight
BACK Mann back 2/05 after 3, 14 min since (108% of 13)
NEW Diabaté 26 to 31 min over the last 5
CHA availability going into 2/11 · 1 day's restOUT White missed 3 since 2/05, out tonight
OUT Hall missed 16 since 1/10, returns tonight: 17 min (108% of 16)
OUT Salaün missed 5 since 1/31, returns tonight: 15 min (98% of 16)
OUT McNeeley missed 6 since 1/29, out tonight
BACK Mann back 2/05 after 3, 14 min since (107% of 13)
NOP availability going into 1/25 · 1 day's restOUT Murray missed 17 since 12/23, out tonight
OUT Alvarado missed 9 since 1/07, returns tonight: 13 min (60% of 22)
OUT Jordan missed 43 since 10/31, out tonight
OUT Hawkins missed 2 since 1/21, out tonight
OUT Alexander missed 7 since 1/11, out tonight
BACK Jones back 1/23 after 8, 25 min since (87% of 28)
BACK Peavy back 1/18 after 2, 21 min since (143% of 15)
BACK Looney back 1/21 after 6, 10 min since (69% of 15)
NEW Missi 20 to 26 min over the last 5
NOP availability going into 1/27 · 1 day's restOUT Murray missed 18 since 12/23, out tonight
OUT McGowens missed 2 since 1/23, out tonight
OUT Jordan missed 44 since 10/31, out tonight
OUT Looney missed 2 since 1/23, out tonight
OUT Hawkins missed 3 since 1/21, out tonight
OUT Alexander missed 8 since 1/11, out tonight
BACK Jones back 1/23 after 8, 27 min since (93% of 28)
BACK Alvarado back 1/25 after 9, 13 min since (60% of 22)
BACK Peavy back 1/18 after 2, 21 min since (138% of 15)
NEW Missi 20 to 26 min over the last 5
NOP availability going into 1/30 · 2 days' restOUT Murray missed 19 since 12/23, out tonight
OUT Poole missed 2 since 1/25, out tonight
OUT McGowens missed 3 since 1/23, out tonight
OUT Jordan missed 45 since 10/31, out tonight
OUT Looney missed 3 since 1/23, out tonight
OUT Hawkins missed 4 since 1/21, out tonight
OUT Alexander missed 9 since 1/11, out tonight
BACK Jones back 1/23 after 8, 27 min since (93% of 28)
BACK Alvarado back 1/25 after 9, 17 min since (76% of 22)
BACK Peavy back 1/18 after 2, 19 min since (126% of 15)
NEW Missi 20 to 26 min over the last 5
NOP availability going into 1/31 · back-to-backOUT Murray missed 20 since 12/23, out tonight
OUT Poole missed 3 since 1/25, out tonight
OUT McGowens missed 4 since 1/23, out tonight
OUT Jordan missed 46 since 10/31, out tonight
OUT Looney missed 4 since 1/23, out tonight
OUT Hawkins missed 5 since 1/21, out tonight
OUT Alexander missed 10 since 1/11, out tonight
BACK Jones back 1/23 after 8, 27 min since (96% of 28)
BACK Alvarado back 1/25 after 9, 19 min since (85% of 22)
NOP availability going into 2/02 · 1 day's restOUT Murray missed 21 since 12/23, out tonight
OUT Poole missed 4 since 1/25, out tonight
OUT McGowens missed 5 since 1/23, out tonight
OUT Jordan missed 47 since 10/31, out tonight
OUT Looney missed 5 since 1/23, out tonight
OUT Hawkins missed 6 since 1/21, out tonight
OUT Alexander missed 11 since 1/11, out tonight
BACK Jones back 1/23 after 8, 28 min since (99% of 28)
BACK Alvarado back 1/25 after 9, 18 min since (84% of 22)
NOP availability going into 2/04 · 1 day's restOUT Murray missed 22 since 12/23, out tonight
OUT Poole missed 5 since 1/25, out tonight
OUT McGowens missed 6 since 1/23, out tonight
OUT Jordan missed 48 since 10/31, out tonight
OUT Looney missed 6 since 1/23, out tonight
OUT Hawkins missed 7 since 1/21, out tonight
OUT Alexander missed 12 since 1/11, out tonight
BACK Alvarado back 1/25 after 9, 21 min since (95% of 22)
NOP availability going into 2/06 · 1 day's restOUT Murray missed 23 since 12/23, out tonight
OUT Poole missed 6 since 1/25, out tonight
OUT McGowens missed 7 since 1/23, returns tonight: 28 min (132% of 21)
OUT Jordan missed 49 since 10/31, out tonight
OUT Looney missed 7 since 1/23, out tonight
OUT Hawkins missed 8 since 1/21, out tonight
OUT Alexander missed 13 since 1/11, out tonight
NOP availability going into 2/09 · 2 days' restOUT Murray missed 24 since 12/23, out tonight
OUT Poole missed 7 since 1/25, out tonight
OUT Jordan missed 50 since 10/31, out tonight
OUT Looney missed 8 since 1/23, out tonight
OUT Hawkins missed 9 since 1/21, returns tonight: 5 min (35% of 14)
OUT Alexander missed 14 since 1/11, out tonight
BACK McGowens back 2/06 after 7, 28 min since (132% of 21)
NOP availability going into 2/11 · 1 day's restOUT Murray missed 25 since 12/23, out tonight
OUT Poole missed 8 since 1/25, out tonight
OUT Jordan missed 51 since 10/31, out tonight
OUT Looney missed 9 since 1/23, returns tonight: 14 min (95% of 15)
OUT Alexander missed 15 since 1/11, out tonight
BACK McGowens back 2/06 after 7, 26 min since (124% of 21)
BACK Hawkins back 2/09 after 9, 5 min since (35% of 14)
I Know — the desk, before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Charlotte comes in 5-0 over its last five, scoring 119 a night and allowing 106, shooting 50 percent and 42 from three, 21 free throws a game; Miller at 25 and Ball at 17 a game. That is 5 straight wins. It has won the glass by 11 a night. Without Hall (12 straight). One day's rest. New Orleans comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 112 a night and allowing 111, shooting 42 percent and 31 from three, 24 free throws a game; Bey at 26 and Williamson at 20 a game. Without Murray (21 straight), Poole (4 straight), McGowens (5 straight). One day's rest.
So: Charlotte wins, and the game turns on the arc, Charlotte at 42 percent from three to New Orleans's 31 and the glass, where Charlotte has been plus-11 a night and New Orleans plus-1. Call it Charlotte 118, New Orleans 111.
1/26 vs PHI 130-93 — CHA notes
CHA won 130-93. CHA shot 57% (47 of 83) to PHI's 39%, 17 of 41 from three, and went to the line 27 times to PHI's 19 — 19 points from the stripe to their 14. CHA turned it over 23 times to PHI's 17, and PHI turned those into 14 steals. The glass went 53-33 for them. Miller led with 30 (9 of 11, 6 of 8 from three, 6 of 6 at the line); Kalkbrenner added 13, Green 12. The hinge was Q3, 40-15: a lead of 25 became 50. Miller was the night's best plus/minus at +40.
1/28 @ MEM 112-97 — CHA notes
CHA won 112-97. CHA shot 49% (44 of 90) to MEM's 46%, 17 of 42 from three. CHA turned it over 17 times to MEM's 12, and MEM turned those into 10 steals. The glass went 43-29 for them. Miller led with 26 (9 of 17, 4 of 8 from three); Bridges added 20, Diabaté 18. The hinge was Q1, 36-28: from level to 8 ahead, and the lead reached 22. Bridges was the night's best plus/minus at +32.
1/29 @ DAL 123-121 — CHA notes
CHA won 123-121. CHA shot 47% (43 of 91) to DAL's 47%, 20 of 41 from three. Knueppel led with 34 (10 of 16, 8 of 12 from three, 6 of 6 at the line); Miller added 23, Ball 22. The hinge was Q1, 33-20: from level to 13 ahead. Miller was the night's best plus/minus at +12.
1/31 vs SAS 111-106 — CHA notes
CHA won 111-106. CHA shot 44% (39 of 88) to SAS's 48%, 13 of 35 from three. The glass went 51-36 for them. Miller led with 26 (7 of 21, 3 of 9 from three, 9 of 9 at the line); Sexton added 21, Ball 16. The hinge was Q2, 35-17: CHA came in trailing by 4 and left it ahead by 14, and the lead reached 20. Diabaté was the night's best plus/minus at +19.
2/02 vs NOP 102-95 — CHA notes
CHA won 102-95. CHA shot 40% (34 of 85) to NOP's 39%, 12 of 50 from three. CHA turned it over 16 times to NOP's 7, and NOP turned those into 9 steals. The glass went 59-34 for them. Ball led with 24 (8 of 20, 3 of 14 from three); Knueppel added 17, Miller 16. The hinge was Q3, 29-18: the deficit went from 15 to 4. CHA trailed 49-64 at the half and won the second half 53-31. Ball was the night's best plus/minus at +24.
2/05 @ HOU — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Houston comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 105 a night and allowing 106, shooting 42 percent and 36 from three, 22 free throws a game; Durant at 21 and Sengun at 19 a game. It has won the glass by 4 a night. Second night of a back-to-back. Charlotte comes in 5-0 over its last five, scoring 116 a night and allowing 102, shooting 47 percent and 38 from three, 20 free throws a game; Miller at 24 and Ball at 18 a game. That is 5 straight wins. It has won the glass by 14 a night. Without Hall (13 straight), Salaün (2 straight). 2 days' rest.
So: Charlotte wins, on the road, and the game turns on the glass, where Charlotte has been plus-14 a night and Houston plus-4 and the turnovers, Charlotte giving it away 15 times a game to Houston's 10. Call it Charlotte 111, Houston 110, Houston keeping it close.
2/07 @ ATL — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Atlanta comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 115 a night and allowing 115, shooting 46 percent and 36 from three, 17 free throws a game; Johnson at 26 and Alexander-Walker at 21 a game. It has lost the glass by 9 a night. Without Okongwu (4 straight). One day's rest. Charlotte comes in 5-0 over its last five, scoring 111 a night and allowing 104, shooting 44 percent and 37 from three, 19 free throws a game; Miller at 20 and Ball at 20 a game. That is 5 straight wins. It has won the glass by 11 a night. Without Hall (14 straight), Salaün (3 straight). One day's rest.
So: Atlanta wins, and the game turns on the glass, where Charlotte has been plus-11 a night and Atlanta minus-9 and the defense, Charlotte allowing 104 a night to Atlanta's 115. Call it Atlanta 115, Charlotte 114, Charlotte keeping it close.
2/09 vs DET — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Charlotte comes in 5-0 over its last five, scoring 114 a night and allowing 108, shooting 44 percent and 38 from three, 21 free throws a game; Knueppel at 22 and Ball at 20 a game. That is 5 straight wins. It has won the glass by 12 a night. Without White (2 straight), Hall (15 straight), Salaün (4 straight). One day's rest. Detroit comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 124 a night and allowing 106, shooting 50 percent and 38 from three, 29 free throws a game; Cunningham at 23 and Duren at 16 a game. It has won the glass by 6 a night. 2 days' rest.
So: Detroit wins, on the road, and the game turns on the glass, where Charlotte has been plus-12 a night and Detroit plus-6 and the line, where Detroit takes 29 free throws a game to Charlotte's 21. Call it Detroit 114, Charlotte 113, Charlotte keeping it close.
2/11 vs ATL — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Charlotte comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 110 a night and allowing 106, shooting 43 percent and 37 from three, 21 free throws a game; Ball at 20 and Knueppel at 19 a game. It has won the glass by 13 a night. Without White (3 straight), Hall (16 straight), Salaün (5 straight). One day's rest. Atlanta comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 121 a night and allowing 125, shooting 47 percent and 37 from three, 22 free throws a game; Johnson at 29 and McCollum at 20 a game. It has lost the glass by 6 a night. One day's rest.
So: Charlotte wins, and the game turns on the glass, where Charlotte has been plus-13 a night and Atlanta minus-6 and the defense, Charlotte allowing 106 a night to Atlanta's 125. Call it Charlotte 119, Atlanta 113.
1/25 @ SAS 104-95 — NOP notes
NOP won 104-95. NOP shot 40% (41 of 102) to SAS's 40%, 9 of 34 from three, and got to the line 17 times to SAS's 32. The glass went 58-46 for them. Bey led with 24 (7 of 15, 3 of 7 from three, 7 of 9 at the line); Williamson added 24, Murphy III 17. The hinge was Q2, 31-19: NOP came in trailing by 3 and left it ahead by 9, and the lead reached 20. Bey was the night's best plus/minus at +22.
1/27 @ OKC 95-104 — NOP notes
NOP lost 95-104. NOP took 12 more shots (99 to 87), fed by 21 offensive rebounds, but shot 34% to OKC's 40%, 10 of 40 from three. NOP turned it over 8 times to OKC's 16. Williamson led with 21 (8 of 11); Bey added 16, Murphy III 10. Q2 was theirs, 32-31, the deficit cut from 3 to 2, but the other 3 periods went 73-63 against them. Matković's -14 in 10 minutes was the worst on the floor.
1/30 vs MEM 114-106 — NOP notes
NOP won 114-106. NOP shot 49% (43 of 88) to MEM's 43%, 8 of 33 from three, and went to the line 26 times to MEM's 15 — 20 points from the stripe to their 14. Bey led with 22 (9 of 19, 2 of 7 from three); Queen added 22, Williamson 21. The hinge was Q3, 35-15: NOP came in trailing by 3 and left it ahead by 17. NOP trailed 58-61 at the half and won the second half 56-45. Williamson was the night's best plus/minus at +14.
1/31 @ PHI 114-124 — NOP notes
NOP lost 114-124. NOP shot 43% (40 of 92) to PHI's 48%, 15 of 36 from three. Bey led with 34 (12 of 19, 4 of 7 from three, 6 of 6 at the line); Murphy III added 19, Fears 12. Q3 was theirs, 27-20, the deficit cut from 13 to 6, but the other 3 periods went 104-87 against them. Williamson's -17 in 30 minutes was the worst on the floor.
2/02 @ CHA 95-102 — NOP notes
NOP lost 95-102. NOP shot 39% (33 of 84) to CHA's 40%, 11 of 34 from three. NOP turned it over 7 times to CHA's 16. The glass went 34-59 against them. Murphy III led with 27 (10 of 20, 3 of 8 from three); Queen added 16, Williamson 14. Q2 was theirs, 34-26, but the other 3 periods went 76-61 against them. They led by as many as 22.
2/04 @ MIL — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Milwaukee comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 106 a night and allowing 114, shooting 44 percent and 38 from three, 19 free throws a game; Rollins at 22 and Kuzma at 19 a game. It has lost the glass by 5 a night. Without Porter Jr. (6 straight), Gia. Antetokounmpo (4 straight), Prince (40 straight). Second night of a back-to-back. New Orleans comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 104 a night and allowing 106, shooting 41 percent and 30 from three, 22 free throws a game; Bey at 21 and Williamson at 18 a game. It has lost the glass by 4 a night. Without Murray (22 straight), Poole (5 straight), McGowens (6 straight). One day's rest.
So: Milwaukee wins, and the game turns on the arc, Milwaukee at 38 percent from three to New Orleans's 30 and the defense, New Orleans allowing 106 a night to Milwaukee's 114. Call it Milwaukee 112, New Orleans 111, New Orleans keeping it close.
2/06 @ MIN — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Minnesota comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 126 a night and allowing 119, shooting 50 percent and 42 from three, 25 free throws a game; Edwards at 30 and Randle at 21 a game. One day's rest. New Orleans comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 111 a night and allowing 115, shooting 43 percent and 36 from three, 25 free throws a game; Murphy III at 22 and Bey at 20 a game. That is 3 straight losses. It has lost the glass by 8 a night. Without Murray (23 straight), Poole (6 straight), McGowens (7 straight). One day's rest.
So: Minnesota wins, and the game turns on the glass, where Minnesota has been plus-1 a night and New Orleans minus-8 and the arc, Minnesota at 42 percent from three to New Orleans's 36. Call it Minnesota 121, New Orleans 114.
2/09 vs SAC — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
New Orleans comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 116 a night and allowing 118, shooting 47 percent and 40 from three, 25 free throws a game; Murphy III at 25 and Bey at 23 a game. It has lost the glass by 10 a night. Without Murray (24 straight), Poole (7 straight), Jordan (50 straight). 2 days' rest. Sacramento comes in 0-5 over its last five, scoring 113 a night and allowing 121, shooting 45 percent and 34 from three, 24 free throws a game; LaVine at 17 and Clifford at 16 a game. That is 5 straight losses. Without Murray (18 straight), Sabonis (2 straight). One day's rest.
So: New Orleans wins, and the game turns on the glass, where Sacramento has been plus-1 a night and New Orleans minus-10 and the arc, New Orleans at 40 percent from three to Sacramento's 34. Call it New Orleans 119, Sacramento 115, Sacramento keeping it close.
2/11 vs MIA — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
New Orleans comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 117 a night and allowing 115, shooting 48 percent and 43 from three, 23 free throws a game; Murphy III at 27 and Bey at 21 a game. It has lost the glass by 11 a night. Without Murray (25 straight), Poole (8 straight), Jordan (51 straight). One day's rest. Miami comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 118 a night and allowing 106, shooting 45 percent and 35 from three, 24 free throws a game; Adebayo at 19 and Wiggins at 19 a game. Without Herro (14 straight), Larsson (2 straight). One day's rest.
So: Miami wins, on the road, and the game turns on the glass, where Miami has been plus-2 a night and New Orleans minus-11 and the arc, New Orleans at 43 percent from three to Miami's 35. Call it Miami 117, New Orleans 115, New Orleans keeping it close.
Who is who
the initials in the Players column
CHABM B. Miller
CS C. Sexton
DI Diabate
GW G. Williams
JG J. Green
KK K. Knueppel
LB L. Ball
MB M. Bridges
MD M. Diabaté
RK R. Kalkbrenner
SJ S. James
NOPDQ D. Queen
HJ H. Jones
JA J. Alvarado
JF J. Fears
KM K. Matković
MA Matkovic
SB S. Bey
TM T. Murphy III
YM Y. Missi
ZW Z. Williamson
CHA/NOP the team itself, not a player
-- the feed named nobody
What
What happened
the codes in the Events column
M2 / M3 made 2 / made 3
X2 / X3 missed 2 / missed 3
FT / X1 free throw made / missed
AST assist
OR / DR offensive / defensive rebound
STL steal
BLK block
TO turnover
FL foul
OF offensive foul — ends the possession
VIOL violation
JUMP jump ball
TM timeout
IR instant replay
HE heave at the buzzer, filed to the team
END the clock ran out, ball in hand
Where
Where a shot came from
the middle field of M3.LW.25
RM at the rim inside 4 ft
RC right corner
RW right wing
SO straight on
LW left wing
LC left corner
M3.LW.25 made 3, left wing, 25 ft
X2.RM.01 missed 2, at the rim, 1 ft
When
When it happened
the Offset column
one number per event, in the Events order:
whole seconds from the start of the
possession to that event
Events FL X3.RC.23 OR M2.RM.01
Offset 0 18 22 24
the foul opens the possession at 0s;
the putback ends it at 24s, which is
the possession's own Dur
Hornets fight back from 22 down to beat Pelicans 102-95 for 7th straight victory
CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- — LaMelo Ball overcame an early head-to-head collision with coach Charles Lee to score 24 points, and the surging Charlotte Hornets fought back from a 22-point deficit to beat the New Orleans Pelicans 102-95 on Monday for their seventh straight win.
Kon Knueppel added 17 points, hitting four 3s, and Brandon Miller and Grant Williams each scored 16 as Charlotte pulled within a half-game of the Atlanta Hawks for the 10th spot in the Eastern Conference.
The Hornets overcame 17 turnovers while matching their longest winning streak since March 2016.
Trey Murphy III scored 27 points to lead the Pelicans, who have lost six of their last nine. Zion Williamson finished with 14 points and 11 rebounds, while Derik Queen had 16 points.
Ball left the game briefly in the first quarter with an eye laceration after banging heads with Lee as Ball was trying to save an errant pass from going out of bounds.
He returned a few minutes later and scored 18 points on three 3s in the first half, but the Hornets still found themselves trailing 64-49 at the break after shooting 7 of 30 from beyond 3-point range and committing 10 turnovers.
Charlotte stormed back to take the lead in the fourth quarter on a blow-by drive and two-handed dunk by Ball.
The Hornets later pushed the lead to nine when Miller, the Eastern Conference Player of the Week, picked Herbert Jones ' pocket at midcourt and raced in for a soaring one-handed dunk.
Up next Pelicans: Visit Milwaukee on Wednesday night.