Hornets blown out by Hawks 128-81 in first game home without LaMelo Ball, booed by sellout crowd

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — Jalen Johnson had 19 points, eight assists and seven rebounds and Atlanta hammered the Charlotte Hornets 128-81 on Friday night in the Hawks' largest blowout in franchise history.

The 47-point victory topped the previous franchise mark of 46 set in a 126-80 win over Sacramento on Nov, 15, 2017.

Aaron Wiggins added 19 points off the bench on 7-of-9 shooting and all five Atlanta starters finished in double figures in scoring, including Nickell Alexander-Walker with 14 and C.J. McCollum with 13.

Naz Reid led the Hornets with 17 points.

The Hornets did little to win fans over in their first home game since trading away star point guard LaMelo Ball, a widely unpopular decision in Charlotte.

The Hawks forced 14 turnovers in the first half alone, leading to 15 points on runouts and built a 25-point first-half lead.

The Hornets were booed loudly as they walked off the floor at halftime by the sellout crowd of 19,524 that was expecting better from a team that won 44 games last season.

The boos grew louder as the Hawks put the pedal down in the third quarter and pulled away, pushing the lead to 49 in the fourth quarter.

Charlotte's Brandon Miller endured his second straight poor shooting night since signing a franchise-record five-year, $209 million contact extension earlier this week. He finished with six points on 1-of-11 shooting from 3-point range. He is shooting 16% (4 of 25) from beyond the arc.

The Hornets played their second straight game without last season's NBA rookie of the year runner-up Kon Knueppel (hamstring), starting point guard Coby White (calf) and reserve forward Grant Williams (hamstring).

Coach Charles Lee said before the game he doesn't have a timetable for their return Friday night, but did say all three players are making good progress in rehab and trending in the right direction.

Hawks: Host the Rockets on Saturday night.

Hornets: Host Miami on Saturday night in a rematch of last year's play-in tournament game.

See AP’s full NBA coverage here

Charlotte Hornets guard Dennis Schroder, right, moves the ball against Atlanta Hawks guard CJ McCollum, left, during the first half of an NBA basketball game in Charlotte, N.C., Friday, Oct. 23, 2026. (AP Photo/Nell Redmond)

Charlotte Hornets guard Grayson Allen (8) drives to the basket against Atlanta Hawks forward Onyeka Okongwu (17) during the first half of an NBA basketball game in Charlotte, N.C., Friday, Oct. 23, 2026. (AP Photo/Nell Redmond)

Atlanta Hawks center Jock Landale (31) looks to pass the ball over Charlotte Hornets forwards Royce O'Neale (00) and Moussa Diabate during the first half of an NBA basketball game in Charlotte, N.C., Friday, Oct. 23, 2026. (AP Photo/Nell Redmond)

Atlanta Hawks guard Kingston Flemings (4) battles Charlotte Hornets guard Dennis Schroder, right, for the ball during the first half of an NBA basketball game in Charlotte, N.C., Friday, Oct. 23, 2026. (AP Photo/Nell Redmond)

Charlotte Hornets center Naz Reid (0) looks to shoot against Atlanta Hawks forward Jalen Johnson, left, during the first half of an NBA basketball game in Charlotte, N.C., Friday, Oct. 23, 2026. (AP Photo/Nell Redmond)

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Austin Reaves had 28 points and nine assists, Walker Kessler added 22 points and six blocked shots, and the Los Angeles Lakers beat the Los Angeles Clippers 125-117 on Friday night for their second win to start the season.

Luka Doncic scored 23 points and committed a career-high 11 turnovers on a rough night for last season's NBA scoring leader. The Lakers' healthy second-half lead dwindled to six points down the stretch, but Reaves and Kessler made big players to seal the Lakers' ninth win in the last 13 meetings with their crosstown rivals.

Darius Garland had 26 points and six assists on another encouraging night for the Clippers, who routed Sacramento in the opener of their rebuilding season.

Brook Lopez, their 38-year-old backup center, scored 15 of his 22 points in the first half for the Clips, who couldn't overcome 26 turnovers.

Rui Hachimura had 16 points and six rebounds in his first trip back up the I-110 freeway to face the Lakers, his team for the previous 3 1/2 seasons.

Kessler has begun his first season with the Lakers by scoring at least 20 points in back-to-back games for the first time in his five NBA seasons.

The 7-foot-2 center missed his first shot in a Lakers uniform on the opening possession against the Clippers, short-arming a layup attempt after he went 12 for 12 in his stellar debut against Golden State.

Kessler then proceeded to make his next eight shots. He finished with eight rebounds.

The Lakers had six players with at least 13 points, including 14 from newcomer Ziaire Williams.

Clippers: At Oklahoma City on Sunday.

Lakers: At Utah on Sunday.

See AP’s full NBA coverage here

Los Angeles Lakers guard Luka Doncic, right, shoots as LA Clippers forward Isaiah Jackson defends during the first half of an NBA basketball game Friday, Oct 23, 2026, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

LA Clippers center Brook Lopez, left, and Los Angeles Lakers forward Kevon Looney grapple for the ball during the first half of an NBA basketball game Friday, Oct. 23, 2026, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

LA Clippers guard Kris Dunn, right passes while under pressure from Los Angeles Lakers guard Austin Reaves during the first half of an NBA basketball game Friday, Oct. 23, 2026, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

LA Clippers center Brook Lopez, left, tries to shoot as Los Angeles Lakers center Walker Kessler defends during the first half of an NBA basketball game Friday, Oct. 23, 2026, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)