Ball has 34 points and 11 assists in return from ankle injury to lead Hornets over Rockets 110-105

HOUSTON (AP) — LaMelo Ball had 34 points and 11 assists in his return from an ankle injury and Grant Williams made a go-ahead 3-pointer with 40 seconds left to give the Charlotte Hornets a 110-105 win over the Houston Rockets on Wednesday night.

Jalen Green scored five quick points to tie it before Williams put the Hornets on top with his step-back 3 to make it 106-103. Ball, who was playing in his first regular-season game since Jan. 26, added two free throws after that to secure the victory.

Green led Houston with 28 points and Alperen Sengun added 25 points and 18 rebounds in his return after missing the last 19 games of last season with a severely sprained ankle.

Hornets: This team has been plagued by injuries in recent years and the problems continued in the opener with young star Brandon Miller sitting out the second half with soreness in his left hip. They’ll need to keep him, Ball and Miles Bridges healthy if they hope to return to the playoffs after an eight-year drought.

Rockets: They need to play more consistently for four quarters after leading by double figures for most of the first three quarters before letting the Hornets get back into it late.

The Hornets used a 10-0 run that spanned from late in the third quarter to early in the fourth to close the gap and put themselves in position for the win after trailing for most of the game.

Houston shot 36.9% from the field while the Hornets made 44.7% of their shots.

The Rockets host the Grizzlies on Friday night and the Hornets visit Atlanta.

AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/nba

Charlotte Hornets forward Moussa Diabate (14) shoots as Houston Rockets forward Amen Thompson defends during the first half of an NBA basketball game Wednesday, Oct. 23, 2024, in Houston. (AP Photo/Eric Christian Smith)

Houston Rockets center Alperen Sengun (28) and Charlotte Hornets forward Cody Martin watch a free throw during the first half of an NBA basketball game Wednesday, Oct. 23, 2024, in Houston. (AP Photo/Eric Christian Smith)

Charlotte Hornets guard LaMelo Ball, right, reacts after making a three point basket against the Houston Rockets during the second half of an NBA basketball game Wednesday, Oct. 23, 2024, in Houston. (AP Photo/Eric Christian Smith)

Charlotte Hornets center Nick Richards (4) blocks the shot of Houston Rockets guard Jalen Green during the first half of an NBA basketball game Wednesday, Oct. 23, 2024, in Houston. (AP Photo/Eric Christian Smith)

Houston Rockets center Alperen Sengun, center, Charlotte Hornets forward Moussa Diabate (14), and center Nick Richards, right, chase a loose ball during the first half of an NBA basketball game Wednesday, Oct. 23, 2024, in Houston. (AP Photo/Eric Christian Smith)

Charlotte Hornets guard LaMelo Ball (1) shoots against the Houston Rockets during the first half of an NBA basketball game Wednesday, Oct. 23, 2024, in Houston. (AP Photo/Eric Christian Smith)

MANILA, Philippines (AP) — Widespread flooding and landslides set off by a tropical storm in the northeastern Philippines on Thursday left at least 23 people dead, swept away cars and prompted authorities to scramble for motorboats to rescue trapped villagers, some on roofs.

The government shut down schools and offices — except those urgently needed for disaster response — for the second day on the entire main island of Luzon to protect millions of people after Tropical Storm Trami slammed into the country’s northeastern province of Isabela after midnight.

The storm was blowing over Aguinaldo town in the mountain province of Ifugao after dawn with sustained winds up to 95 kph (59 mph) and gusts up to 160 kph (99 mph). It was blowing westward and was forecast to enter the South China Sea later on Thursday, according to state forecasters.

At least 23 people died, mostly due to drowning in the hard-hit Bicol region and nearby Quezon province but the toll was expected to rise as towns and villages isolated by flooding and roads blocked by landslides and toppled trees manage to send out reports, police and provincial officials said.

Most of the storm deaths were reported in the six-province Bicol region, southeast of Manila, where at least 20 people died, including 7 residents in Naga city, which was inundated by flash floods as Trami was approaching Tuesday, dumping more than two months’ worth of rainfall in just 24 hours at high tide, regional police chief Brig. Gen. Andre Dizon and other officials said.

While thousands of villagers, who were trapped in floodwaters, have been rescued by government forces, many more needed to be saved Thursday in the Bicol region, including some on roofs. About 1,500 police officers have been deployed for disaster-mitigation work, Dizon said.

“We can’t rescue them all at once because there are so many and we need additional motorboats," Dizon told The Associated Press by telephone. “We’re looking for ways to deliver food and water to those who were trapped but could not be evacuated right away.”

Flash floods swept away and submerged cars in some parts of Naga city while mudflows from Mayon, one of the country’s 24 active volcanoes, in nearby Albay province, engulfed several vehicles, Dizon said.

Stormy weather remained in the region, hampering relief efforts, officials said.

The government’s disaster-mitigation agency said more than 2 million people were affected by the storm, including 75,400 villagers who were displaced from their homes and are sheltering on safer ground.

About 20 storms and typhoons batter the Philippines each year. In 2013, Typhoon Haiyan, one of the strongest recorded tropical cyclones in the world, left more than 7,300 people dead or missing and flattened entire villages.

In this handout photo provided by the Philippine Coast Guard, rescuers carry residents trapped in their home after floods caused by Tropical Storm Trami, locally named Kristine, hit their village at Libon, Albay province, Philippines on Wednesday, Oct. 23, 2024. (Philippine Coast Guard via AP)

In this handout photo provided by the Philippine Coast Guard, rescuers carry a resident trapped in their homes after floods caused by Tropical Storm Trami, locally named Kristine, hit their village at Libon, Albay province, Philippines on Wednesday Oct. 23, 2024. (Philippine Coast Guard via AP)