LaMelo Ball Leads Hornets Past Wizards In Historic Sweep

The Charlotte Hornets have finally broken a long-standing dry spell, sweeping the Washington Wizards in a season series for the first time since the 2009-10 NBA campaign. On Sunday night, February 22, 2026, at Capital One Arena, the Hornets delivered a dazzling offensive performance to topple the Wizards 129-112, marking a significant milestone for a team that’s been hungry for a statement win streak. Fans who tuned in to FDSSE or MNMT, or those who filled the stands in Washington, witnessed a game that was electric from the opening tip. The Hornets, carrying a 26-31 record into the matchup and riding a six-game road winning streak, looked every bit the part of a team on the rise. The Wizards, meanwhile, entered the contest at 16-39 and were desperate to turn their fortunes around. However, the night belonged to Charlotte—and especially to LaMelo Ball. LaMelo Ball, the Hornets’ dynamic point guard, put on a show for the ages. He poured in 37 points on a sizzling 12-of-20 shooting clip, including 19 in the first half. Ball’s third quarter was nothing short of spectacular, as he went “seemingly unconscious,” according to local coverage, and fueled a Hornets surge that left the Wizards reeling. His ability to control the tempo, find open teammates, and hit shots from all over the court was the difference-maker that swung the momentum firmly in Charlotte’s favor. But Ball wasn’t the only Hornet lighting up the scoreboard. Kon Knueppel added 28 points, shooting an impressive 55% from the field, while Brandon Miller chipped in 22 points on 57% shooting. The Hornets were absolutely lethal from beyond the arc, draining 25 three-pointers and finishing the night shooting 54% from deep. That’s the kind of shooting night that makes opponents shake their heads—and it left the Wizards scrambling for answers all evening. For the Wizards, Bilal Coulibaly was a bright spot. He came out firing, scoring the team’s first 11 points and finishing with 17 points in just 17 minutes on 6-of-9 shooting. Coulibaly also contributed two blocks, showing flashes of the two-way potential that Washington fans have been hoping to see. Unfortunately, he was sidelined for the entire second quarter, a stretch during which the Wizards struggled to keep pace with Charlotte’s relentless attack. Jaden Hardy came off the bench to provide a spark, scoring 16 points in 21 minutes and hitting four threes. Kyshawn George added 13 points in 18 minutes, while Jamir Watkins matched that total with three triples of his own. Tre Johnson and Will Riley each finished with 11 points, but the Wizards simply couldn’t muster enough firepower to hang with a red-hot Hornets squad. The game started with plenty of back-and-forth action. After Coulibaly’s early scoring burst, Charlotte began to pull away, opening up a lead as large as 12 points in the first quarter. But the Wizards fought back, and a three from Alondes Williams tied the game at 35 in the final minute of the opening period. Will Riley’s late layup briefly put Washington ahead, but Brandon Ingram responded with a buzzer-beating deep three, giving Charlotte a 38-37 edge after one. Charlotte opened the second quarter with a 6-0 run, quickly stretching the lead to double digits. Still, the Wizards showed some resilience, trimming the deficit to just two points late in the half. Will Riley’s free throws made it a 61-56 game at halftime, with Coulibaly watching from the bench. At that point, the contest felt up for grabs—but that feeling didn’t last long. When the third quarter began, the Hornets hit the gas. With Coulibaly back on the floor, Charlotte unleashed a 9-0 run and soon ballooned their lead to 16 points. Head coach Brian Keefe called timeout, but it was no use. LaMelo Ball caught fire, scoring the rest of his points in the third quarter and pushing the lead to as much as 22. The Hornets outscored the Wizards 44-28 in the frame, turning what had been a competitive game into a lopsided affair. By the time the fourth quarter rolled around, the outcome was all but decided, and the Wizards were left playing for pride in what amounted to extended garbage time. Injury woes certainly didn’t help the Wizards’ cause. They were without Alex Sarr (hamstring), Cam Whitmore (shoulder, out for the season), Anthony Davis (finger, out for the season), Trae Young (knee), and D’Angelo Russell (not injury related). Several others, including Justin Champagnie, Kyshawn George, and Tristan Vukcevic, were listed as questionable leading up to tipoff. For the Hornets, Coby White (calf) and Liam McNeeley (ankle) were both sidelined, but Charlotte’s depth more than made up for the absences. Statistically, the Hornets’ offensive explosion was no fluke. They came into the game averaging 115.4 points per contest—about seven fewer than the 122.7 points per game the Wizards typically surrendered. Washington, for its part, averaged 112.5 points per game, just a tick below the 113.7 points Charlotte allowed on average. On this night, though, Charlotte’s shooters were simply unstoppable, and the Wizards’ defense couldn’t keep up. After the final buzzer, the Hornets improved to 26-31, while the Wizards dropped to 16-40. For Washington, the schedule doesn’t get any easier. They’ll hit the road for two consecutive games against the Atlanta Hawks, beginning Tuesday, February 24, 2026, at 7:30 p.m. That matchup will be especially intriguing, marking the first meeting between the two teams since the blockbuster trade that sent Trae Young to the Wizards—though Young himself remains sidelined with a knee injury. For Charlotte, the win is more than just another notch in the victory column. It’s a sign that this group is clicking at the right time, with shooters finding their rhythm and LaMelo Ball proving he can take over a game when it matters most. The Hornets’ faithful have reason to be excited as the team looks to build on this momentum and continue their push up the Eastern Conference standings. As the season series sweep sinks in, the Hornets can savor a performance that showcased their offensive firepower, depth, and resilience. For the Wizards, it’s back to the drawing board as they search for answers and hope to get healthy in time to salvage what’s left of their campaign.