Charlotte HornetsOpen full analysis
Washington WizardsOpen full analysis
Charlotte dominated Washington 139–113 at Capital One Arena on October 26, with LaMelo Ball's 38 points anchoring a dominant road performance. The Hornets shot 51.1 percent from the field and drilled 15 three-pointers while Miles Bridges added 22 points, as Charlotte's offense overwhelmed the Wizards' defense (128.9 defensive rating). Washington's CJ McCollum (24 points) and Alperen Şengün (23 points) couldn't carry the load against Charlotte's balanced attack, which generated 30 assists and committed just 11 turnovers. The decisive shift came in the second half: after a tight first quarter, Charlotte erupted for 44 points in the third and 44 more in the fourth, while Washington managed only 26 and 25 respectively. The Wizards shot just 45.1 percent and managed only 10 three-pointers despite 25 assists, their 102.7 offensive rating insufficient against Charlotte's suffocating perimeter defense, which recorded 12 steals. Charlotte's defensive intensity and depth scoring showed championship-caliber form on the road.
