CHARLOTTE, N.C. (Interstat) — The Charlotte Hornets overcame an early deficit with a dominant second quarter to defeat the San Antonio Spurs 111-106 on Saturday afternoon at Spectrum Center. San Antonio led 30-26 after the first quarter, but Charlotte seized control with a 35-17 advantage in the second period. The Spurs, led by Victor Wembanyama, chipped away but could not fully recover from that stretch. The Hornets’ balanced effort, featuring key performances from Brandon Miller and LaMelo Ball, secured the home victory before an announced crowd of 19,533. The loss snapped a two-game winning streak for the Spurs, who fell to 32-17. The Hornets improved to 22-28 with their third win in four games.

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (Interstat) — Brandon Miller scored 26 points and the Charlotte Hornets withstood a late surge to defeat the San Antonio Spurs 111-106 on Saturday afternoon at Spectrum Center, extending their winning streak to six games. A crowd of 19,533 saw the Hornets secure their longest win streak since March 2016, when they won seven straight. Collin Sexton provided a massive spark off the bench, scoring 21 points and making all five of his 3-point attempts. LaMelo Ball added 16 points, eight rebounds and eight assists. The game’s pivotal sequence unfolded in the final minute. Leading 109-106 with 10.6 seconds remaining, Charlotte’s Brandon Miller was fouled and sent to the line. He calmly sank both free throws to push the lead to five. San Antonio’s ensuing possession resulted in a missed 3-pointer by De’Aaron Fox, and after Victor Wembanyama’s offensive rebound, Devin Vassell missed another triple as time expired, sealing the Hornets’ victory. San Antonio was led by Dylan Harper’s 20 points, while Stephon Castle finished with 16 points and nine assists. Victor Wembanyama was held to 16 points on 6-of-15 shooting with eight rebounds. The contest was a tale of runs. San Antonio started strong, building an early lead and finishing the first quarter up 30-26. Charlotte responded with a dominant second quarter, outscoring the Spurs 35-17 behind a 13-point period from Miller and perfect shooting from Sexton. That surge gave the Hornets a 61-47 halftime advantage. The Spurs chipped away in the second half, closing the gap to four points on multiple occasions in the fourth quarter. A driving layup by De’Aaron Fox cut Charlotte’s lead to 104-102 with 3:13 to play. The Hornets answered each time, with Miles Bridges converting a crucial three-point play with 1:07 left after being fouled on a drive, extending the lead to 109-106. Charlotte’s balance proved decisive. Moussa Diabate recorded a double-double with 12 points, 10 rebounds and six assists. Bridges contributed 14 points and six rebounds, while Kon Knueppel added 13 points and six rebounds. The Hornets’ bench, led by Sexton, outscored San Antonio’s reserves. San Antonio, which fell to 32-17, was efficient offensively but could not contain Charlotte’s second-quarter explosion or get key stops in the final minutes. The Spurs shot well but committed 15 turnovers, which the Hornets converted into 21 points. The win improves Charlotte to 22-28, continuing a remarkable mid-season turnaround during this streak. The Hornets have now defeated Dallas, Memphis, Philadelphia, Washington, Orlando and San Antonio during the run. San Antonio visits Orlando on Sunday. Charlotte hosts New Orleans on Monday.

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (Interstat) — The surging San Antonio Spurs, led by MVP candidate Victor Wembanyama, visit the Spectrum Center on Saturday to face a Charlotte Hornets team riding its best stretch of the season. The Spurs (32-16) enter with the NBA’s fourth-best record, having won eight of their last 11 games. Their recent success is anchored by the dominant play of Wembanyama, the 7-foot-4 phenom who is averaging 22.4 points, 10.8 rebounds and 3.0 blocks this season. Over his last 10 games, he has posted six double-doubles, including a 39-point, 9-rebound performance in a win over Minnesota on Jan. 17 and a 28-point, 16-rebound, 5-block effort in Wednesday’s 111-99 victory at Houston. San Antonio’s backcourt of De’Aaron Fox and rookie Stephon Castle provides potent support. Fox is averaging 22.1 points and 7.2 assists, while Castle adds 14.5 points per game. The Hornets (20-28) have found a rhythm in January, winning seven of their last 10 contests to climb back into play-in tournament contention. Their resurgence has been fueled by improved defense and the emergence of third-year forward Moussa Diabate. In Wednesday’s 112-97 road win at Memphis, Diabate recorded a career-high 20 rebounds to go with 18 points. Over the last 10 games, he is averaging a double-double with 10.0 points and 10.8 rebounds. Charlotte’s offense runs through forwards Miles Bridges (21.8 ppg) and Brandon Miller (20.1 ppg), who combined for 46 points in the win over the Grizzlies. Saturday’s matchup will feature a stark contrast in the paint between Wembanyama’s unique shot-blocking and scoring prowess and Diabate’s physical, high-motor rebounding. The Spurs won the teams’ first meeting this season, 118-105, in San Antonio on Nov. 15, 2025, behind 31 points from Wembanyama. For San Antonio, the game begins a challenging three-game road trip before returning home. Charlotte looks to continue its home success, where it is 13-10 this season, before embarking on a four-game trip next week.