LaMelo Ball scores 30 as Hornets beat Kings 117-109

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — LaMelo Ball scored 20 of his 30 points in the first half and the Charlotte Hornets beat the Sacramento Kings 117-109 on Wednesday night.

Miles Bridges had 26 points as Charlotte won at Sacramento for the first time in more than two years. Standout rookie Kon Knueppel added 24 points and Brandon Miller scored 20.

DeMar DeRozan scored 39 points for the Kings and moved past Hall of Famer Tim Duncan into 18th place on the NBA's career scoring list with 26,505 points. Duncan, a 15-time All-Star, had 26,496 points in 19 seasons.

Ball shot 10 of 22 and made six 3-pointers. He had six rebounds and five assists.

The Hornets trailed much of the first half but began taking control in the third quarter. Bridges' alley-oop pass to Miller gave Charlotte an 88-83 lead, and White’s three-point play early in the fourth made it 99-88.

After the Kings got within 108-100 with three minutes remaining, Bridges made a floater. Ball then hit his sixth 3-pointer of the night and added a pair of free throws to help Charlotte close it out.

Nique Clifford had 18 points and seven assists for the Kings, who were attempting to win their third straight for the first time since early January.

Precious Achiuwa added 14 points and eight rebounds for Sacramento and Daeqwon Plowden scored 13 points.

The Kings played without Russell Westbrook (quad bruise).

Ball and Bridges combined for six 3-pointers and 31 points in the first half but Charlotte committed eight turnovers and trailed 62-57 at the break.

Hornets: At San Antonio on Saturday.

Kings: Visit the Los Angeles Clippers on Saturday.

AP NBA: https://apnews.com/NBA

Charlotte Hornets forward Miles Bridges (0) goes for a layup against Sacramento Kings guard Nique Clifford (5) during the second half of an NBA basketball game, Wednesday, March 11, 2026, in Sacramento, Calif. (AP Photo/Justine Willard)

Sacramento Kings forward Precious Achiuwa (9) blocks Charlotte Hornets forward Brandon Miller (24) during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Wednesday, Mar. 11, 2026, in Sacramento, Calif. (AP Photo/Justine Willard)

Charlotte Hornets guard Kon Knueppel (7) shoots a three-point basket during the second half of an NBA basketball game against the Sacramento Kings, Wednesday, March 11, 2026, in Sacramento, Calif. (AP Photo/Justine Willard)

Charlotte Hornets guard Kon Knueppel (7) reacts after a three-point basket during the second half of an NBA basketball game against the Sacramento Kings, Wednesday, March 11, 2026, in Sacramento, Calif. (AP Photo/Justine Willard)

Charlotte Hornets guard LaMelo Ball (1) reacts after a three-point basket during the second half of an NBA basketball game against the Sacramento Kings, Wednesday, March 11, 2026, in Sacramento, Calif. (AP Photo/Justine Willard)

BARCELONA, Spain (AP) — British rock star Morrissey won’t perform a concert in Valencia after festivities in the Spanish city kept him from getting a proper night’s rest, the former frontman of The Smiths said Thursday.

A statement posted on Morrissey’s website on the morning of the concert said that the “scheduled show in Valencia has been rendered impossible due to sleep deprivation.”

Morrissey arrived to Valencia on Wednesday after a two-day drive from Milan, but he was disturbed during the night by the festival that included, the statement said, “loud techno singing (and) megaphone announcements” that were audible from inside his hotel room.

“This experience has left Morrissey in a catatonic state,” the statement read.

In another short post on his website, the singer said his night was an “indescribable hell.”

“It will take me one year to recover. And that is an understatement.”

The website added in bold print that “The show is not canceled. Circumstances render the show impossible,” making it unclear if it will be rescheduled or if ticket holders can request a refund.

The 66-year-old Morrissey is touring to promote his album “Make-up Is a Lie,” his first in six years, which was released earlier this month. It is the 14th solo album for the ex-singer of The Smiths, an iconic 1980s rock band.

While loved by his fans for timeless hits such as “How Soon Is Now?” and “Everyday Is Like Sunday,” Morrissey is also known for his temperamental character and wide array of shifting political views. His support of animal rights has made him a fierce critic of Spain's traditional bullfights, for example.

The “Las Fallas” festival in Valencia, a city on Spain’s eastern Mediterranean coast, is famous for its noisy street parties and fireworks. It culminates in the burning of huge, handmade papier-mâché sculptures, which this year takes place on March 19.

UNESCO added Las Fallas to its catalog of intangible cultural heritage in 2016, describes the incineration of the sculptures as “a form of purification” and “social renewal.”

Morrissey stays in Spain for his next two tour dates, playing in Zaragoza on Saturday and Seville on Monday.

FILE - British singer and songwriter Morrissey performs at the Vive Latino music festival in Mexico City on March 17, 2018. (AP Photo/Marco Ugarte, File)