Continuing the new format from last month, I will be pinning the post-game thread for this December’s Hornets games. The correct schedule is Most of the scheduled games are now posted in the attached image from prosportsbackgrounds.com
Continuing the new format from last month, I will be pinning the post-game thread for this December’s Hornets games. The correct schedule is Most of the scheduled games are now posted in the attached image from prosportsbackgrounds.com
2023-12-28
Brutal 3rd-Quarter Showing Solidifies Hornets’ 9th Straight Loss In LA
Sam Perley, NBA.com/Hornets
Charlotte Comes Undone in the 2nd Half, Also Gets More Bad News on the Injury Front
It was a different day and different opponent, but the same building and same result for the Charlotte Hornets. After finishing nine back of the LA Clippers two days ago, the purple and teal had a dreadful third quarter in Thursday night’s 133-112 road loss to the Los Angeles Lakers.
For the third straight game, Miles Bridges led the Hornets in scoring with 20 points, although he struggled with his efficiency from the second quarter on (nine points on 3-of-15 shooting; 11 points on 4-of-5 shooting in the first). Terry Rozier was right behind him with 18 points and eight assists and Nick Richards had a career-high-tying third straight double-double (11 points, 10 rebounds and two blocks).
Trailing by only one at halftime, Charlotte conceded six turnovers, five and-1’s, a 12-0 Lakers run, and 12 points to both LeBron James and Rui Hachimura in the problematic third quarter, leading to a 99-80 deficit with one frame to go. The Hornets didn’t come close to climbing out of the massive hole they dug themselves in, trailing by as many as 28 in the fourth on their way to an eighth loss in 10 head-to-head meetings with Los Angeles.
“They came out and went zone [in the third quarter],” said Hornets Head Coach Steve Clifford following the team’s ninth straight loss, now its longest single season losing streak since the 2014-15 campaign. “It was part of the reason for the turnovers. Obviously, once we got down, we lost our way, lost our poise, got disorganized and that’s where a lot of the turnovers happened. We can’t turn the ball over and we must defend whether the ball’s going in or not. That’s what we stopped doing in the second half.”
Charlotte ended with 19 giveaways and allowed the Lakers to shoot 53.6% and 50.0% from 3-point range (15-of-30). Brandon Miller returned from a one-game absence to tally 17 points on 5-of-9 shooting, while Bryce McGowens (10 points) put all five Charlotte starters in double figures. McGowens got the start again in place of the injured Gordon Hayward, who will be sidelined for at least the next two weeks with a left calf strain he suffered on Tuesday evening.
Added Clifford, “Our guys have worked hard. They know we’re short-handed. This is a tough trip. A lot of times in this league, it’s not just how many injuries you have, but when they come. Unfortunately for us, we’ve had more than our share of injuries, and this is not the time to be short-handed.”
Anthony Davis poured in a game-high 26 points and eight rebounds to help the Lakers notch just their third win since claiming the In-Season Tournament title earlier this month. James and Hachimura both finished with 17 points, with D’Angelo Russell and Austin Reaves each totaling 16 points off the bench. For James, his mastery of the Hornets continued with this latest victory. Counting the postseason, he’s now 36-2 against Charlotte since the start of the 2010-11 season.
The Hornets will close out their all-road back-to-back against the Phoenix Suns on Friday, Dec. 29 beginning at 9 PM ET. Catch all the action on Bally Sports Southeast and WFNZ 92.7 FM.