In a high-scoring battle at Spectrum Center in Charlotte, NC, the Charlotte Hornets faced off against the visiting Los Angeles Lakers and were narrowly defeated with a final score of 124-118 on February 6. Despite the loss, the game was marked by remarkable individual performances from the Hornets' roster.
Miles Bridges and Brandon Miller demonstrated their scoring prowess by each tallying over 30 points for the third game in a row, a significant feat for the duo. On this night, Bridges not only led his team but also set a new career high by dropping an impressive 41 points. Meanwhile, Miller continued his impressive rookie campaign by putting up 33 points of his own.
Rough Start for the Hornets
The Hornets had a challenging start to the game, trailing by eight points after the first quarter—a deficit that would extend to 16 by halftime. The Lakers' solid performance continued after the break, maintaining their double-digit advantage despite a valiant effort from the Hornets in the second half. Early in the third quarter, Miller found success with an elbow shot, momentarily raising the home crowd's energy, but it wasn't enough to sway the game's momentum significantly.
While an increased offensive aggression in the fourth quarter allowed the Hornets to outscore the Lakers during that period, they were unable to overcome the substantial lead that the Lakers established early on. This loss marks the Hornets' eighth in a row since trading guard Terry Rozier to the Miami Heat.
Historic Performances
Despite the loss, the night was significant for Bridges as he achieved a new personal best in scoring. On the other side of history, Miller secured his spot in the Hornets' record books by becoming the first rookie in the franchise's history to score at least 30 points in consecutive games.
Nick Richards played a solid 32 minutes on the court, contributing four points and securing four rebounds, proving to be a steady presence for the team. Ish Smith made a notable impact in the first quarter, adding six points to the Hornets’ early efforts. The uptick in the offensive output was no doubt a silver lining; however, the team's defensive performance was less than stellar, leaving room for improvement if they hope to end their losing streak.
Looking Ahead
Next on the schedule, the Hornets are set to go head-to-head against the Indiana Pacers on February 12, looking to defend their home court. The Pacers have the lead in the season's face-offs, with two wins out of the three games played against the Hornets. With the Pacers placed 6th in the Eastern Conference, the Hornets, currently 13th, will have to bring their best game forward to secure a win.
The team’s recent performances suggest that there could be hope on the horizon. In the last 10 games, Richards has averaged 12.1 points, while Covenant players Bridges and Miller have averaged 23.8 and 22.2 points, respectively. Supporting cast members like Cody Martin and Bryce McGowens have been contributing too, with Martin averaging 7.2 points and McGowens 6.7.
The upcoming match against the Pacers is expected to commence at 7:00 PM ET, once again on the Hornets' home turf at Spectrum Center. The Hornets will seek to halt their losing streak and climb the conference rankings.
A Team Effort
Miller expressed his gratitude for the support from his teammates, attributing his confidence and performance to their encouragement. He said, "Hats off to my teammates for coming in every day and building my confidence to take the shots that I take in tough matchups like this with the crowd going. It’s really all my teammates, not just me. If it wasn’t for them, I wouldn’t take those shots."
This team-centric mentality, along with the evident individual talents, might just be what the Charlotte Hornets need to pivot their season toward success, starting with the impending challenge against the Indiana Pacers.