Hornets Extend Winning Streak to Eight With 109 to 99 Road Win Over Rockets

Rookie Kon Knueppel scored a career high 24 points and LaMelo Ball added 20 as the Charlotte Hornets delivered a breaking update Thursday night, defeating the Houston Rockets 109 99 and extending the longest winning streak in franchise history in more than two decades.

Charlotte improved its streak to eight consecutive victories, the team’s longest since the 1998 99 season, continuing a surge that has reshaped its outlook in the Eastern Conference race. The Hornets controlled the game for most of the night, leading by double digits at the end of three quarters and steadily pulling away in the fourth.

Charlotte carried a 91 - 75 advantage into the final period and quickly widened the gap. Brandon Miller opened the quarter with five straight points to push the lead to 96 - 75, and a 5 0 run later in the period, capped by a Sion James three pointer, made it 103 81 with just over eight minutes remaining. Houston head coach Ime Udoka then pulled his starters as the outcome became clear.

Ball orchestrated the offense efficiently, complementing Knueppel’s perimeter shooting and transition scoring. Miles Bridges contributed 18 points, while Miller finished with 11 despite sitting out the entire second quarter after picking up three fouls early. Charlotte’s balance and defensive consistency again stood out, hallmarks of a stretch that has vaulted the team into league wide attention.

Houston entered the night fourth in the Western Conference but suffered a second straight lopsided loss after falling 114 - 93 to Boston on Wednesday. Kevin Durant led the Rockets with 31 points, and Jabari Smith Jr. added 17. Alperen Sengun, who entered averaging 21.2 points per game, was limited to seven points on 3 of 11 shooting as Charlotte crowded the paint and disrupted Houston’s offensive flow.

The Rockets briefly cut the deficit to seven in the third quarter on a Durant basket, but consecutive three pointers from James and Ball quickly restored separation and shifted momentum back to Charlotte. The Hornets closed the quarter with the final four points to reestablish a commanding lead.

Charlotte was without newly acquired guard Coby White, who was with the team after arriving in a trade from Chicago on Wednesday but did not play due to a lingering calf injury. White is expected to remain sidelined until after the All Star break, a timeline that will be monitored as Charlotte evaluates rotation options during its surge.

From a broader impact perspective, the Hornets’ streak reflects significant growth from a young core, with Knueppel’s emergence and Ball’s steady leadership driving sustainable production. What this means moving forward is increased confidence and playoff relevance if the team maintains health and defensive focus.

Next steps come quickly. The Hornets travel to Atlanta on Saturday night, while the Rockets head to Oklahoma City looking to stabilize after back to back losses as they navigate the next phase of the season.