Charlotte HornetsOpen full analysis
New Orleans PelicansOpen full analysis
The New Orleans Pelicans defeated the Charlotte Hornets 116–112 on November 4 at Smoothie King Center in a closely contested matchup decided in the final quarter. Trey Murphy III led New Orleans with 21 points, while Jose Alvarado added 18 points to pace the home team's offensive effort. Miles Bridges paced Charlotte with 22 points and was supported by Kenrich Knueppel's 20-point contribution, but the Hornets' fourth-quarter collapse proved decisive—they managed just 19 points in the final period after scoring 34 in the third. Both teams shot efficiently from the field (New Orleans 47.8%, Charlotte 47.6%), but the Pelicans' three-point advantage was substantial: they made 17 threes compared to Charlotte's 13. The Hornets dominated the glass with 49 rebounds to New Orleans' 39 but committed 19 turnovers versus the Pelicans' 12, a critical differential in a low-scoring fourth quarter. New Orleans' 119.1 offensive rating and 113.9 defensive rating underscored their balanced execution down the stretch. Charlotte's inability to maintain third-quarter momentum leaves them searching for consistency as the season progresses.
