Kyle Kuzma scored 24 points, and the Los Angeles Lakers held on for a 101-93 win against a Charlotte Hornets team missing five of its top six scorers on Tuesday night.
Dennis Schroder added 19 points and Andre Drummond chipped in with 12 rebounds for the Lakers, who closed out a seven-game road trip with a 4-3 record to remain in fifth place in the Western Conference.
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Kyle Kuzma scored 24 points, and the Los Angeles Lakers held on for a 101-93 win against a Charlotte Hornets team missing five of its top six scorers on Tuesday night.
The Lakers held the Hornets to 43.4% shooting overall and 25.7% from 3-point range.
The Lakers built a 10-point lead in the closing seconds of the third quarter behind a jumper by Schroder.
Graham answered with a runner and the Cody Zeller appeared to come up with a steal in the backcourt before losing control of the ball. The Hornets were forced to foul and Kuzma slammed the door on Charlotte with four free throws down the stretch.
Hornets: Started their 15th different lineup. ... James Borrego picked up a technical foul in the third quarter. ... Had 18 turnovers resulting in 26 points for the Lakers.
Hornets: Host the Cavaliers on the second night of a back-to-back Wednesday.
Charlotte Hornets forward Jalen McDaniels, left, fouls Los Angeles Lakers guard Wesley Matthews during the second half in an NBA basketball game on Tuesday, April 13, 2021, in Charlotte, N.C. (AP PhotoChris Carlson)
Devonte Graham led the Hornets with 19 points. Caleb Martin had 17 points and 10 rebounds.
Charlotte Hornets center Bismack Biyombo, center, throws down a two-handed dunk against the Los Angeles Lakers during the first half of an NBA basketball game in Charlotte, N.C., Tuesday, April 13, 2021. (Jeff SinerThe Charlotte Observer via AP)
The Lakers held the Hornets to 43.4% shooting overall and 25.7% from 3-point range.
The game was largely a battle of backups, with the Hornets missing four starters due to injury and the Lakers three.
Charlotte was missing more than 72% of its scoring with Terry Rozier and P.J. Washington joining LaMelo Ball, Gordon Hayward and Malik Monk on the bench. The Lakers, who are still without All-Stars LeBron James and Anthony Davis, were missing Markieff Morris due to a sprained left ankle.
Charlotte Hornets forward Miles Bridges, right, gains control of a rebound against Los Angeles Lakers forward Kyle Kuzma, left, during the first half of an NBA basketball game in Charlotte, N.C., Tuesday, April 13, 2021. (Jeff SinerThe Charlotte Observer via AP)
The Lakers built a 10-point lead in the closing seconds of the third quarter behind a jumper by Schroder.
But Charlotte cut the lead to one with 1:54 remaining behind a coast-to-coast layup and a 3-pointer from Graham. The Hornets had a chance to take the lead on their next possession, but Graham turned the ball over and Alex Caruso made them pay at the other end with a big 3 with 43 seconds left.
Graham missed a spinning 3-point attempt and Caruso made two free throws to push the lead to six with 28.1 left.
Charlotte Hornets forward Caleb Martin, center, grabs control of a rebound with teammate and center Bismack Biyombo, left, as Los Angeles Lakers center Andre Drummond, right, looks on during the first half of an NBA basketball game in Charlotte, N.C., Tuesday, April 13, 2021. (Jeff SinerThe Charlotte Observer via AP)
Graham answered with a runner and the Cody Zeller appeared to come up with a steal in the backcourt before losing control of the ball. The Hornets were forced to foul and Kuzma slammed the door on Charlotte with four free throws down the stretch.
TIP INS
Lakers: James supported his teammates from the bench throughout the game and got quite animated following a high-flying one-handed dunk from Kuzma over Bismack Biyombo. ... Coach Frank Vogel picked up a technical foul in the second quarter when he argued a charge call against Drummond. ... Marc Gasol (left hamstring) didn't play despite being cleared before the game.
Charlotte Hornets forward Caleb Martin, center, throws down a two-handed dunk against the Los Angeles Lakers during the first half of an NBA basketball game in Charlotte, N.C., Tuesday, April 13, 2021. (Jeff SinerThe Charlotte Observer via AP)
Hornets: Started their 15th different lineup. ... James Borrego picked up a technical foul in the third quarter. ... Had 18 turnovers resulting in 26 points for the Lakers.
UP NEXT
Lakers: Return home to host the Celtics on Thursday night.
Charlotte Hornets forward Caleb Martin, center, throws down a two-handed dunk against the Los Angeles Lakers during the first half of an NBA basketball game in Charlotte, N.C., Tuesday, April 13, 2021. (Jeff SinerThe Charlotte Observer via AP)
Hornets: Host the Cavaliers on the second night of a back-to-back Wednesday.
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Los Angeles Lakers forward Kyle Kuzma, top, vies for a rebound with Charlotte Hornets center Cody Zeller during the second half in an NBA basketball game on Tuesday, April 13, 2021, in Charlotte, N.C. (AP PhotoChris Carlson)
Charlotte Hornets forward Jalen McDaniels, left, fouls Los Angeles Lakers guard Wesley Matthews during the second half in an NBA basketball game on Tuesday, April 13, 2021, in Charlotte, N.C. (AP PhotoChris Carlson)