North Charlotte Today

The Charlotte Hornets concluded their Summer League campaign in Las Vegas with a notable victory over the Brooklyn Nets. Although they narrowly missed the semifinals, the team made a strong impression. Forward Brandon Slater led the Hornets with 30 points on 10-of-16 shooting, including six three-pointers, in a 97-90 win.

In the second quarter, Slater scored 18 points on perfect shooting to help Charlotte build a significant lead. "It was just my teammates and my coaches (that got me going). My support staff and everybody telling me to keep playing hard, play how I play and the game will come to you," Slater said postgame.

With one game remaining in Las Vegas, Summer League Head Coach Joshua Longstaff opted to give other players more minutes. Notable absences included Brandon Miller and Tidjan Salaun for precautionary reasons, as well as Matt Morgan and Zavier Simpson. Guard Marcus Garrett stepped into the starting lineup for the first time, contributing 12 points, five rebounds, four steals, and two assists.

After trailing by two at halftime, Charlotte launched a 19-2 run early in the third quarter led by Slater, RaeQuan Battle, and Garrett. The Hornets' defense held Brooklyn to just one field goal during this stretch while forcing four turnovers.

Despite their efforts to extend their lead to 15 points late in the third quarter, Brooklyn managed to close the gap again. Jake Stephens made crucial plays down the stretch for Charlotte, including an offensive rebound that tied the game and sparked an 11-0 run.

The Hornets finished their Summer League stint with a record of 4-1 in Las Vegas and combined for a 7-1 record across both Sacramento and Las Vegas leagues. This marks their best finish since going 3-2 in Las Vegas in 2018. Under new Head Coach Charles Lee's guidance, they now prepare for Training Camp back home.

Zavier Simpson set a new franchise summer record by averaging eight assists per game in Las Vegas.