The Charlotte Hornets erased a 22-point deficit to defeat the New Orleans Pelicans 102-95 in a Summer League matchup on July 11, 2026. The game unfolded at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas, where both clubs used the developmental setting to evaluate their young talent.

Charlotte’s win was anchored by a dominant rebounding effort, out-rebounding New Orleans 59-34. Six Hornets players recorded seven or more boards, a testament to their physicality in the paint. LaMelo Ball led the Hornets with 24 points, shooting 5-for-6 inside the arc after a 3-for-14 night from three. He also added eight rebounds and five assists. Kon Knueppel contributed 17 points and nine rebounds, while Brandon Miller chipped in 16 points and eight rebounds.

The Pelicans struggled to generate offense after the break, scoring only 31 points in the second half and just 13 in the fourth quarter. Zion Williamson posted a double-double with 14 points and 11 rebounds, and Trey Murphy III led all scorers with 27 points on 10-for-20 shooting, including 3-for-8 from three. The Pelicans’ three-point shooting was poor at 12-for-50, and their inability to sustain a half-court rhythm in the final period was evident.

The comeback underscores Charlotte’s resilience and suggests an emerging willingness to stretch the floor, even in a Summer League context. The Hornets are on their longest winning streak in nearly a decade, and the performances of Knueppel, Miller and Ball provide optimism for the franchise’s near-future. For New Orleans, the collapse raises concerns about closing out games, especially as they continue to build a roster around Williamson. The Pelicans have reached the playoffs nine times in 22 seasons but have yet to break through to a conference final.

Both teams return to action quickly. The Pelicans face Phoenix on July 12 and Cleveland on July 15, while the Hornets will travel to Boston on July 12 before concluding their four-game schedule against Milwaukee on July 15. Those games will be critical for assessing talent ahead of the Summer League semifinals on July 18 and the championship on July 19.