Without Four Opening Night Starters, Charlotte Struggles to Keep Up in 11th Straight Loss
For the second time in nine days, the Charlotte Hornets played a very solid first half against the reigning NBA Champion Denver Nuggets. But once again, things got completely derailed for them with a mess of a third quarter in a 111-93 loss on Monday night in the Mile High City.
Miles Bridges crossed the 20-point plateau for the fourth time in five games, finishing with a team-high 26 on 10-of-14 shooting, nine rebounds and five assists (career-high-tying fifth straight five-assist game) in the loss. Nick Richards and Brandon Miller both had 15 points for a Hornets squad that used its 13th different starting lineup of the season with Terry Rozier unavailable (illness).
A 49-49 contest at halftime rapidly turned the Nuggets’ way in the third quarter, a frame they won by a lopsided 40-17 margin. Denver shot 63.2% (5-of-8 from 3-point range) and sank all 11 of its free throw attempts over the second half’s opening 12 minutes, while forcing five turnovers and not conceding a single charity-stripe visit. The Hornets never threatened from that point on, sealing their first losing streak of at least 11 consecutive games since Nov. 26 – Dec. 29, 2012 (lost 18 straight).
“The one thing that stood out to me [about the third quarter] was the turnovers,” said Hornets Head Coach Steve Clifford after the game. “I think we only had six turnovers at half, and we had four pretty quickly in the third that they made us pay on. With where we’re at right now and the guys we have available, we can’t be turning the ball over.”
Charlotte has now been outscored by 20-or-more points in a single quarter four times this season and both third quarters against Denver have accounted for two of them (lost the third quarter, 30-9, in the Dec. 23 meeting). This was the Nuggets’ 10th win in 12 outings and fifth straight in the head-to-head series with the Hornets.
Ish Smith made his second start of the year in place of the sickened Rozier, finishing with a season-high 10 points, three rebounds and four assists. Prior to tipoff, the former-Nugget Smith was honored in a pre-game ceremony and presented his 2022 NBA Championship ring. Charlotte finished with 14 turnovers for 20 Denver points and lost the fast-break, 14-4.
The Nuggets got 20-point performances from both Jamal Murray (25; 11 in the first quarter), and Michael Porter Jr. (22) in the victory. Two-time NBA MVP and last year’s Finals MVP Nikola Jokić oddly attempted just one shot in the first half, before finishing with 13 points on 6-of-7 shooting, a game-high 11 rebounds and six assists. Reggie Jackson contributed 15 points off the Denver bench, which outscored its Charlotte counterpart, 36-17.
The Hornets will close out their second consecutive all-road back-to-back against the Sacramento Kings on Tuesday, Jan. 2 beginning at 10 PM ET. Catch all the action on Bally Sports Southeast and WFNZ 92.7 FM.
2024-01-01
Nuggets Ride Another Huge 3rd Quarter To Down Hornets Again
Sam Perley, NBA.com/Hornets
Without Four Opening Night Starters, Charlotte Struggles to Keep Up in 11th Straight Loss
For the second time in nine days, the Charlotte Hornets played a very solid first half against the reigning NBA Champion Denver Nuggets. But once again, things got completely derailed for them with a mess of a third quarter in a 111-93 loss on Monday night in the Mile High City.
Miles Bridges crossed the 20-point plateau for the fourth time in five games, finishing with a team-high 26 on 10-of-14 shooting, nine rebounds and five assists (career-high-tying fifth straight five-assist game) in the loss. Nick Richards and Brandon Miller both had 15 points for a Hornets squad that used its 13th different starting lineup of the season with Terry Rozier unavailable (illness).
A 49-49 contest at halftime rapidly turned the Nuggets’ way in the third quarter, a frame they won by a lopsided 40-17 margin. Denver shot 63.2% (5-of-8 from 3-point range) and sank all 11 of its free throw attempts over the second half’s opening 12 minutes, while forcing five turnovers and not conceding a single charity-stripe visit. The Hornets never threatened from that point on, sealing their first losing streak of at least 11 consecutive games since Nov. 26 – Dec. 29, 2012 (lost 18 straight).
“The one thing that stood out to me [about the third quarter] was the turnovers,” said Hornets Head Coach Steve Clifford after the game. “I think we only had six turnovers at half, and we had four pretty quickly in the third that they made us pay on. With where we’re at right now and the guys we have available, we can’t be turning the ball over.”
Charlotte has now been outscored by 20-or-more points in a single quarter four times this season and both third quarters against Denver have accounted for two of them (lost the third quarter, 30-9, in the Dec. 23 meeting). This was the Nuggets’ 10th win in 12 outings and fifth straight in the head-to-head series with the Hornets.
Ish Smith made his second start of the year in place of the sickened Rozier, finishing with a season-high 10 points, three rebounds and four assists. Prior to tipoff, the former-Nugget Smith was honored in a pre-game ceremony and presented his 2022 NBA Championship ring. Charlotte finished with 14 turnovers for 20 Denver points and lost the fast-break, 14-4.
The Nuggets got 20-point performances from both Jamal Murray (25; 11 in the first quarter), and Michael Porter Jr. (22) in the victory. Two-time NBA MVP and last year’s Finals MVP Nikola Jokić oddly attempted just one shot in the first half, before finishing with 13 points on 6-of-7 shooting, a game-high 11 rebounds and six assists. Reggie Jackson contributed 15 points off the Denver bench, which outscored its Charlotte counterpart, 36-17.
The Hornets will close out their second consecutive all-road back-to-back against the Sacramento Kings on Tuesday, Jan. 2 beginning at 10 PM ET. Catch all the action on Bally Sports Southeast and WFNZ 92.7 FM.