A 46-point second quarter pushed the Wizards to victory.
CHARLOTTE, N.C. β Bilal Coulibaly scored 26 points as the Washington Wizards defeated the Charlotte Hornets 124-114 on Monday.
The Wizards (8-41) were bolstered by a 46-point second quarter that gave them a commanding 77-54 lead at halftime. A 21-4 run in the period gave the Wizards the lopsided advantage. Corey Kispert had 18 points and Coulibaly had 15 points in the quarter for Washington.
Charlotte (12-35) closed the gap to five points in the third quarter but Washington held off the comeback.
Shooting percentage and other stats were almost even in Monday’s contest. Washington’s large halftime lead proved the difference maker.
The Hornets were once again without leading scorer LaMelo Ball, who has missed time with an ankle injury. Miles Bridges and Nick Smith Jr. led the Hornets with 24 points each. That mark matches a career-high for Smith.
Bridges scored his first triple-double with 10 rebounds and 10 assists.
Three of Washington’s eight wins this year have come against the Hornets. Charlotte and Washington remain 14th and 15th in the Eastern Conference, respectively.
The Hornets have now lost five straight games. The Wizards have won two straight games for just the second time this season.
Charlotte faces the Milwaukee Bucks on Wednesday.
