Charlotte didn’t blink against a hotter, higher-seeded opponent. The Hornets used a decisive third-quarter burst to beat the New York Knicks 114-103 on March 26, 2026 at Spectrum Center, improving to 39-34 and extending a five-game winning streak. New York fell to 48-26, snapping the momentum of a recent run that had them trending up.

How it happened

The game opened at full throttle. New York dropped 36 in the first quarter, but Charlotte answered with 38 to take a 38-36 lead after one. The Hornets then tightened the screws in the second, holding the Knicks to 19 while scoring 27 themselves to carry a 65-55 advantage into halftime.

Charlotte’s separation came out of the locker room. The Hornets put up 29 in the third quarter and limited New York to 21, stretching the margin to 94-76. That’s the swing that decided the night: Charlotte created a cushion big enough to absorb New York’s 27-point fourth quarter, even as the Hornets scored 20 in the final frame.

Turning point: the third-quarter surge

New York had been within striking distance at the break, but the third quarter changed the geometry of the game. Charlotte’s 29-point period pushed the lead from 10 to 18, forcing the Knicks into a chase mode the rest of the way. In a matchup between two teams in strong form entering the night, that one quarter was the separator.

Ball movement and control

Charlotte’s offensive connectivity stood out. The Hornets finished with 28 assists, a slight edge over the Knicks’ 26, and consistently generated enough quality looks to keep New York from stringing together the stops required for a full comeback. When the Knicks made their push late, Charlotte’s ability to keep the ball moving helped them manage the game and protect the lead.

What it means going forward

For Charlotte, this was a statement win: a 39-34 team playing its best basketball (WWWWW) taking down a 48-26 Knicks group that arrived in good form (LWWWW). The Hornets’ ability to win the high-scoring first quarter, clamp down in the second, then land the knockout third speaks to a team that’s finding reliable patterns on both ends.

For New York, the early offense was there, but the 19-point second quarter and the inability to stem Charlotte’s third-quarter run left too much ground to cover. The Knicks showed life in the fourth, but the hole was already dug.