CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Anthony Davis scored 26 points in a triple-double as the Los Angeles Lakers held off a fleeting comeback from the Charlotte Hornets.
The Lakers (27-25) were ahead by as much as 21 points in the third quarter before rookie Brandon Miller and Miles Bridges led a frenzy that pulled the Hornets (10-39) within four points in the final minute.
Bridges had a chance to pull Charlotte within one score in the final minute but his 3-point attempt was blocked by Davis. Miller missed another shot from behind the arc seconds later. Los Angeles ultimately held on 124-118. The Hornets have now lost eight straight games.
Davis finished with 26 points, 15 rebounds, and 11 assists. D'Angelo Russell led the Lakers with 28 points. LeBron James had 26 points.
The Hornets were led by Bridges with 41 points. Miller had 33 points one night after putting up a career-high 35 points against the Indiana Pacers. The next highest-scoring Charlotte player was P.J. Washington with just 15 points.
"[Miller] just does things you don't teach," Steve Clifford, the Hornets coach, said. "He's got size. He's going to have a playmaking ability as he gets older. Right now we need him to score and that's what he's doing."
Charlotte was playing on the second night of back-to-back games but looked much more up to speed than during Sunday's loss to the Indiana Pacers. The Hornets were once again without LaMelo Ball, Gordon Hayward, and Mark Williams.
Los Angeles got things rolling quickly and held a 37-29 lead after the first quarter. Both teams mirrored their first-period performance in the second quarter, with the Lakers holding a 74-58 lead at halftime.
The Hornets slowly worked their way toward a possible comeback in the third quarter. After a quiet first half, it became Miller time as the rookie came alive with 16 points in the fourth quarter.
Charlotte outscored Los Angeles 60-50 in the second half but were unable to close the deal for the huge comeback.
The Hornets are next in action on Wednesday as they host the Toronto Raptors.