Thanks to Bridges and Smith, the Hornets beat the Lakers 117-114.
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At the conclusion of regulation, Russell Westbrook had a choice to make: drive to the basket and attempt to force overtime, or take the shot on a 3-pointer and go for the win. Westbrook tried for the victory with 0.7 seconds remaining, but his jumper didn’t fall, culminating in yet another consecutive Los Angeles Lakers loss.
Miles Bridges scored 26 points, a rare occurrence. Ish Smith scored 22 points on 10-of-12 shooting off the bench to help the Charlotte Hornets beat the Los Angeles Lakers 117-114 on Friday night.
Go to work @IshSmith ? #AllFly | @HornetsOnBally pic.twitter.com/YYdKybQH9f
— Charlotte Hornets (@hornets) January 29, 2022
With players LeBron James and Anthony Davis out due to injury, Westbrook put up 35 points, including 16 in the fourth quarter, to help the Lakers rally from a 20-point hole.
He had no remorse about the final shot.
Read more: Joel Embiid scores 26, leads 76ers past LeBron-less Lakers
Westbrook said, “I had just made two (3-pointers) just before that, so I will live and die with that one.”
With nine seconds remaining, Westbrook received the ball at the top of the key and turned to the left side of the floor, sizing up defender Miles Bridges. Westbrook went for the victory and pulled up because he felt Bridges was giving him enough area to shoot.
P.J. Washington grabbed the rebound after the ball rebounded off the hoop. With 0.2 seconds left, Washington added a free throw for the final margin.
Bridges, who was shifted onto Westbrook on the last play, predicted that with the Lakers playing on the road and on the second night of a back-to-back, Westbrook would try for the victory.
Bridges said, “I know he didn’t want to go to overtime. I tried to get a good contest on him.”
BEST DUNKER IN THE NBA! Don’t @ us!@MilesBridges | @HornetsOnBally pic.twitter.com/YSwzM2G0s7
— Charlotte Hornets (@hornets) January 29, 2022
Westbrook’s shot selection was not an issue for Lakers coach Frank Vogel.
Vogel said, “The hottest guy in the gym has the ball in his hands ready to make a play. He was 3 for 6 from the 3 in the second half and went for the win. He knocks that down, we’re talking about one hell of a win. It just didn’t go down for us. Russell was spectacular in that second half. He just really willed our team into an opportunity to steal one on the road.”
Davis did not participate due to right wrist pain, and James missed his second straight game due to left knee stiffness. After Davis scored 31 points in a defeat to Philadelphia on Thursday night, Vogel claimed he held out his star center as a precaution.
For the Hornets, LaMelo Ball and Terry Rozier both scored 20 points. The Lakers also got 19 points from Carmelo Anthony and 16 from rookie Austin Reaves.
The Hornets stormed out to a 16-3 lead in the first quarter and led by 20 in the third quarter until the Lakers battled back into the game with a solid third quarter.
