CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — Say what you will about Charlotte's LaMelo Ball, but you can’t deny the 2022 NBA All-Star has his own style.
The Hornets point guard turned some heads on Thursday night when he pulled up to the Spectrum Center for the team’s game against the Detroit Pistons in a brightly colored Hummer that replicated Scooby-Doo’s “The Mystery Machine" — only a whole lot more expensive than the one Shaggy and Velma drove in the children's cartoon.
Ball, a big dog lover, was promoting the release of his Scooby-Doo x Puma MB.04s, which drop on Nov. 27.
Ball wore the bright, multi-colored Pumas during warmups, then changed into bright orange shoes for the game.
Ball said following the Hornets' 123-121 overtime win that he liked the decked-out rental.
But Ball stopped short of saying he might try to purchase it, joking, “I already got the Hummer, so I ain't even tripping.”
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Charlotte Hornets guard LaMelo Ball (1) looks to pass the ball around Detroit Pistons guard Jaden Ivey (23) during the first half of an NBA basketball game in Charlotte, N.C., Thursday, Nov. 21, 2024. (AP Photo/Nell Redmond)
Charlotte Hornets guard LaMelo Ball (1) drives into Detroit Pistons center Jalen Duren, left, during the first half of an NBA basketball game in Charlotte, N.C., Thursday, Nov. 21, 2024. (AP Photo/Nell Redmond)
Charlotte Hornets guard LaMelo Ball (1) drives to the basket past Detroit Pistons guard Wendell Moore Jr.,left, during the first half of an NBA basketball game in Charlotte, N.C., Thursday, Nov. 21, 2024. (AP Photo/Nell Redmond)
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Giannis Antetokounmpo blocked a shot by LeBron James and stole the ball from him on consecutive possessions in the final minute, and the Milwaukee Bucks blew a fourth-quarter lead before rallying for a 105-101 victory over the Los Angeles Lakers on Friday night.
Kevin Porter Jr. scored 22 points, and he hit two free throws to break a tie after Antetokounmpo blocked a driving layup attempt by James with 39 seconds left.
Antetokounmpo then knocked the ball out of James' hands from behind with 2 seconds left, and Porter hit two more free throws to seal Milwaukee's fifth win in seven games — its first over a team with a winning record since Dec. 11. Antetokounmpo finished with 21 points in his lowest-scoring effort since returning from his right calf strain.
Luka Doncic had 24 points and nine assists on 8-of-25 shooting for the Lakers. He had his lowest-scoring performance since Christmas, and he fouled out on Porter's 3-point attempt with 16.2 seconds to play.
James had 26 points, 10 assists and nine rebounds, but Antetokoumpo got the best of the top scorer in NBA history at crunch time. Los Angeles has lost six of 10.
Milwaukee surged to a double-digit lead in the first half even with Antetokounmpo on a minutes restriction in his injury return. Doncic scored 12 points in the third quarter but also committed four fouls in the period, including his fifth of the game.
Los Angeles abruptly erased its deficit by going on a 17-4 run to open the fourth, with James putting the Lakers ahead when he stole the ball from Antetokounmpo for a layup with 6:02 left. Milwaukee missed nine of its first 12 shots in the period, but Porter's layup tied it with two minutes left.
Lakers starters Austin Reaves and Rui Hachimura remain sidelined by injury, but Hachimura (calf) might return early next week from his six-game absence, coach JJ Redick said.
Bucks: At Denver on Sunday.
Lakers: At Sacramento on Monday.
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Los Angeles Lakers guard Marcus Smart, left, tries to shoot as Milwaukee Bucks guard Gary Trent Jr. defends during the first half of an NBA basketball game Friday, Jan. 9, 2026, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Los Angeles Lakers guard Luka Doncic, left, and Milwaukee Bucks guard Kevin Porter Jr. go after a loose ball during the first half of an NBA basketball game Friday, Jan. 9, 2026, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
