Game ID: 22500737
Charlotte Hornets @ Houston Rockets
Thursday, February 5, 2026 at 8:00 PM ET
Toyota Center, Houston, TX
Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Final
HOU 26 23 26 24 99CHA 29 32 30 18 109
CHA @ HOU ScoutingCHA @ HOU 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.
HOU availability going into 1/29 · back-to-backBACK Eason back 1/20 after 5, 25 min since (94% of 26)
BACK Holiday back 1/28 after 6, 1 min since (6% of 14)
NEW Okogie 17 to 23 min over the last 5
HOU availability going into 1/31 · 1 day's restBACK Holiday back 1/28 after 6, 4 min since (33% of 14)
NEW Okogie 17 to 26 min over the last 5
HOU availability going into 2/02 · 1 day's restBACK Holiday back 1/28 after 6, 4 min since (33% of 14)
NEW Okogie 17 to 26 min over the last 5
HOU availability going into 2/04 · 1 day's restBACK Holiday back 1/28 after 6, 9 min since (64% of 14)
HOU availability going into 2/05 · back-to-backBACK Holiday back 1/28 after 6, 9 min since (69% of 14)
HOU availability going into 2/07 · 1 day's rest
full strength
HOU availability going into 2/10 · 2 days' restNEW Eason 26 to 32 min over the last 4
HOU availability going into 2/11 · back-to-backOUT Holiday missed 2 since 2/07, out tonight
HOU availability going into 2/19 · 7 days' restOUT Holiday missed 3 since 2/07, out tonight
NEW Eason 26 to 31 min over the last 4
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)
CHA availability going into 2/19 · 7 days' restOUT White missed 4 since 2/05, out tonight
OUT McNeeley missed 7 since 1/29, out tonight
BACK Hall back 2/11 after 16, 17 min since (108% of 16)
BACK Salaün back 2/11 after 5, 15 min since (98% of 16)
BACK Mann back 2/05 after 3, 14 min since (112% of 13)
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.
1/29 @ ATL 104-86 — HOU notes
HOU won 104-86. HOU shot 42% (39 of 92) to ATL's 37%, 12 of 31 from three, and went to the line 20 times to ATL's 7 — 14 points from the stripe to their 6. The glass went 59-46 for them. Durant led with 31 (12 of 22, 3 of 8 from three); Smith Jr. added 14, Sheppard 13. The hinge was Q3, 35-24: a lead of 1 became 12, and the lead reached 22. Sheppard was the night's best plus/minus at +20.
1/31 vs DAL 111-107 — HOU notes
HOU won 111-107. HOU shot 42% (45 of 108) to DAL's 45%, 10 of 26 from three, and got to the line 15 times to DAL's 26. HOU turned it over 5 times to DAL's 11. Thompson led with 21 (7 of 15, 7 of 9 at the line); Smith Jr. added 19, Eason 17. The hinge was Q2, 28-23: a lead of 3 became 8. Thompson was the night's best plus/minus at +15.
2/02 @ IND 118-114 — HOU notes
HOU won 118-114. HOU shot 46% (40 of 87) to IND's 49%, 7 of 22 from three, and went to the line 37 times to IND's 21 — 31 points from the stripe to their 16. HOU turned it over 15 times to IND's 10, and IND turned those into 10 steals. The glass went 56-33 for them. Sengun led with 39 (13 of 25, 13 of 18 at the line); Smith Jr. added 19, Thompson 16. The hinge was Q2, 39-28: HOU came in trailing by 4 and left it ahead by 7. Tate was the night's best plus/minus at +17.
2/04 vs BOS 93-114 — HOU notes
HOU lost 93-114. HOU shot 41% (34 of 82) to BOS's 43%, 11 of 30 from three. The glass went 38-57 against them. Durant led with 15 (4 of 11, 0 of 4 from three, 7 of 7 at the line); Smith Jr. added 13, Sengun 13. Q4 was theirs, 30-29, the deficit cut from 22 to 21, but the other 3 periods went 85-63 against them. Smith Jr.'s -29 in 33 minutes was the worst on the floor.
2/05 vs CHA 99-109 — HOU notes
HOU lost 99-109. HOU shot 46% (38 of 83) to CHA's 41%, 8 of 23 from three. Durant led with 31 (11 of 21, 3 of 4 from three, 6 of 8 at the line); Smith Jr. added 17. Q4 was theirs, 24-18, the deficit cut from 16 to 10, but the other 3 periods went 91-75 against them. Okogie's -22 in 20 minutes was the worst on the floor.
2/07 @ OKC — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
OKC comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 114 a night and allowing 107, shooting 45 percent and 37 from three, 22 free throws a game; Gilgeous-Alexander at 28 and Holmgren at 16 a game. Without Jal. Williams (9 straight), Mitchell (7 straight). 2 days' rest. Houston comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 105 a night and allowing 106, shooting 43 percent and 36 from three, 23 free throws a game; Durant at 22 and Sengun at 16 a game. One day's rest.
So: OKC wins, and the game turns on the glass, where Houston has been plus-3 a night and OKC minus-3. Call it OKC 114, Houston 107.
2/10 vs LAC — 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 107 a night and allowing 110, shooting 44 percent and 35 from three, 24 free throws a game; Durant at 20 and Sengun at 18 a game. 2 days' rest. The Clippers come in 3-2 over their last five, scoring 110 a night and allowing 110, shooting 52 percent and 37 from three, 26 free throws a game; Leonard at 30 and Collins at 17 a game. Without Bogdanović (2 straight). One day's rest.
So: Houston wins, and the game turns on the turnovers, the Clippers giving it away 17 times a game to Houston's 12. Call it Houston 112, the Clippers 110, the Clippers keeping it close.
2/11 vs LAC — 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 108, shooting 45 percent and 38 from three, 25 free throws a game; Durant at 23 and Sengun at 20 a game. Second night of a back-to-back. The Clippers come in 2-3 over their last five, scoring 106 a night and allowing 112, shooting 50 percent and 35 from three, 24 free throws a game; Leonard at 30 and Collins at 18 a game. Without Bogdanović (3 straight). Second night of a back-to-back.
So: Houston wins, in a game with no one edge to lean on. Call it Houston 112, the Clippers 108, the Clippers keeping it close.
2/19 @ CHA — 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 42 percent and 37 from three, 22 free throws a game; Ball at 21 and Knueppel at 20 a game. It has won the glass by 11 a night. Without White (4 straight). 7 days' rest. Houston comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 102 a night and allowing 106, shooting 45 percent and 38 from three, 21 free throws a game; Durant at 23 and Smith Jr. at 16 a game. 7 days' rest.
So: Charlotte wins, and the game turns on the glass, where Charlotte has been plus-11 a night and Houston minus-3. Call it Charlotte 112, Houston 107.
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 109-99 — CHA notes
CHA won 109-99. CHA shot 41% (36 of 87) to HOU's 46%, 17 of 43 from three. Knueppel led with 24 (8 of 13, 2 of 5 from three, 6 of 6 at the line); Ball added 20, Bridges 18. The hinge was Q2, 32-23: a lead of 3 became 12, and the lead reached 22. Green was the night's best plus/minus at +18.
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.
2/19 vs HOU — 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 42 percent and 37 from three, 22 free throws a game; Ball at 21 and Knueppel at 20 a game. It has won the glass by 11 a night. Without White (4 straight). 7 days' rest. Houston comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 102 a night and allowing 106, shooting 45 percent and 38 from three, 21 free throws a game; Durant at 23 and Smith Jr. at 16 a game. 7 days' rest.
So: Charlotte wins, and the game turns on the glass, where Charlotte has been plus-11 a night and Houston minus-3. Call it Charlotte 112, Houston 107.
Who is who
the initials in the Players column
CHABM B. Miller
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
TM T. Mann
HOUAH A. Holiday
AS A. Sengun
AT A. Thompson
CC C. Capela
DF D. Finney-Smith
IC I. Crawford
JD J. Davison
JO J. Okogie
JS J. Smith Jr.
KD K. Durant
RS R. Sheppard
CHA/HOU 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 extend winning streak to 8 games with 109-99 victory over Rockets
HOUSTON -- — Rookie Kon Knueppel had 24 points and LaMelo Ball added 20 to help the Charlotte Hornets roll to a 109-99 victory over the Houston Rockets on Thursday night and extend their winning streak to eight games.
Charlotte’s streak is the franchise’s longest since winning nine in a row in the 1998-99 season.
The Hornets led by 16 after three quarters and Brandon Miller scored the first five points of the fourth to extend the lead to 96-75 with about 11 minutes to go. A 5-0 run by Charlotte, with a 3-pointer by Sion James , made it 103-81 with about eight minutes remaining and Houston coach Ime Udoka pulled his starters.
It’s a second straight lopsided defeat for the Rockets, who lost 114-93 Wednesday night to a Boston team playing without star Jaylen Brown .
Kevin Durant led Houston, which entered Thursday in fourth place in the Western Conference, with 31 points and Jabari Smith Jr. added 17. It was a tough night for Alperen Sengun , who was averaging 21.2 points, and scored just seven on 3-of-11 shooting.
Miles Bridges added 18 points for the Hornets and Miller finished with 11 after sitting out the entire second quarter after getting three fouls in the first.
Coby White was with the team after a trade from the Chicago Bulls on Wednesday. But he did not play and is expected to sit out until after the All-Star break because of a nagging calf injury.
A basket by Durant got the Rockets within 7 before James and Ball made consecutive 3-pointers to push the lead to 83-70 with about four minutes left in the third.
Charlotte was up by 12 late in the third before scoring the last four points of the quarter to take a 91-75 lead into the fourth.