Ball’s career-best 50 not enough as Hornets fall

LaMelo Ball became the third-youngest player in NBA history, and the first in Charlotte Hornets history, with 50 points and 10 assists in a game, but it came in a losing effort Saturday night, as the Milwaukee Bucks won 125-119.

The 50 points were a career high for Ball, 23, who had 10 points in the first half but exploded for 40 in the second. He finished 17-of-38 from the field, including 6-of-17 beyond the arc, and was 10-of-13 on free throws.

Brandon Miller added 32 for the Hornets. He and Ball are the fourth duo, both 23 or younger, to each score 30-plus points in consecutive games in NBA history, and the first since Russell Westbrook and Kevin Durant did it for the Oklahoma City Thunder in 2012.

Giannis Antetokounmpo had 32 points and 11 rebounds and Damian Lillard added 31 points for the Bucks, who completed a 4-0 homestand and have won six of their past seven games.

Milwaukee opened the fourth quarter with a 14-5 spurt for a 110-90 lead, but the Hornets got it to 121-119 on Miller’s 3-pointer with 15 seconds left.

Taurean Prince answered with a pair of free throws for the Bucks to make it a two-possession game, and Charlotte missed a pair of 3-pointers on the ensuing possession. Antetokounmpo hit two free throws with 4.5 seconds left to make it 125-119.

ESPN Research and The Associated Press contributed to this report.