Ball-Bridges reunion puts Hornets in a better place

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

Miles Bridges' return to the starting lineup, along with clutch plays like this three-point shot to beat Boston Monday, has lifted the Charlotte Hornets to their first win streak of the season.

The Bugs are buzzing because Miles Bridges is back and LaMelo Ball is playing at an All-NBA level.

The Charlotte Hornets have their first winning streak of the season following double-digit comeback victories against one of the NBA’s best teams and one of the worst before starting a three-game road trip.

Bridges’ return to the starting lineup has been a spark for Steve Clifford’s team, and the on-court chemistry with Ball has been record-setting for Charlotte.

The duo became the first in Hornets’ history to record 30-plus point double-doubles in Wednesday’s win against Washington, and Clifford knows that Charlotte needs that type of production on a nightly basis to be a surprise team in the Eastern Conference.

“Those guys were both terrific,” he said. “That’s what you have to have to win in the NBA. Watch the games every night. Basketball works that way where whoever has the best offensive player on the floor has a big advantage, and tonight, those guys did that. If you just sit and watch NBA games, that’s every night for somebody.”

After missing the entirety of 2022-23 and the first 10 games of this season due to an NBA suspension related to domestic violence charges, Bridges returned against Milwaukee last week and made his debut in the starting lineup Monday night against Boston. Since reuniting with Ball in the starting five, Bridges has posted performances of 14 points and 15 rebounds, including the game-tying three and game-winning steal against the Celtics, and followed that with 33 points and 10 rebounds on an efficient 61.1% from the field against the Wizards.

Ball expected the Hornets’ tide to turn when Bridges returned, and Charlotte’s (5-9) modest win streak will be put to the test against one of the hottest teams in the league on Sunday. Orlando has reeled off five straight victories, including beating last season’s champion Nuggets on Wednesday.

“I’ve got trust in Miles,” Ball said. “I know what he’s capable of, and I know what I’m capable of, so there’s a lot of trust there. Just trying to win. We always had chemistry. Even when I got here, first game, we’ve always had chemistry.

“I love to see it. I already told him when he gets back, just stay locked in, and everything’s going to happen right. Hopefully, we’ll keep on trying to use energy and get wins, then keep on trying to go on to the next and get another win.”

One would expect that missing 92 games over 19 months would lead to rust and conditioning struggles, but Bridges has played 32 minutes or more in every game since his return, including 45 minutes in the overtime win against Boston. He credits his individual work and Clifford’s coaching for the immediate return to form.

“I was in the gym, so I had confidence in my game,” Bridges said. “It’s just me getting back comfortable with the team, and it’s a new coach. I’m just getting adjusted to Cliff. He’s a great coach, so I’m getting in the flow of things now.”

Bridges replaced P.J. Washington as a starter, which is just yet another adjustment for the Hornets’ rotation that has seen nine different players in the opening five through 14 games. Washington missed the Wizards win with right foot discomfort, joining Terry Rozier (groin), Cody Martin (knee), Nick Richards (concussion), Frank Ntilkina (tibia fracture) and James Bouknight (knee) on the injury report.

With continuous inconsistency in the rotation, one thing has remained the same – Ball is playing at a level that very few are over the last six games. He has scored 30 points or more in seven of his last nine games, improving his averages to 25.9 points, 8.6 assists, 5.8 rebounds and 1.5 steals per game on the season.

Ball’s efficiency over the last six games has been the difference, nearly achieving the 50/40/90 feat – shooting 49% from the field, 42.7% from three-point range and 93% from the free throw line – while scoring 33.8 points per game. For reference, the only player in the league to score more than Ball in the last six games is Kevin Durant.

Bridges has seen Ball’s jump from All-Star to superstar.

“He’s just playing at an unbelievable level. He’s made the leap into a superstar,” Bridges said. “He was an All-Star, and now he’s a superstar. Like I said before, if he’s not on any of the All-NBA teams, I’ll be surprised. He’s a winner, and it’s showing on the court, and I’m happy for him.”

Part of Ball’s efficiency spike has been his ability to get downhill to the rim, draw fouls and finish through contact. Half of Ball’s shots have come in the paint, which has played a part in the Hornets’ league-leading 58 points in the paint per game.

Clifford credits Ball’s off-season weight training, allowing the 180-pound guard to fight through contact, even when he’s not getting the whistle like other NBA stars (36th in free throw attempts at 4.5 per game).

“He’s playing great. His defense is getting better and better, too,” Clifford said. “He’s a very talented player, and I don’t know if it shows, but if you watch him in the weight room and look at all the data that they give us, he’s a lot stronger than he was last year.

“He couldn’t do a lot this summer on the court or conditioning because of his ankle, but he did spend a lot of time in the weight room, and I think that’s paying off. His numbers finishing at the rim, although it’s early, are much better than they have been in the past, and a lot of that is just strength.”

With the duo of Bridges and Ball playing at a high level, Mark Williams taking steps to become one of the better centers in the Eastern Conference and Brandon Miller flashing with regularity, Charlotte – with better health – has the ingredients to get above .500.

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