Spectrum Center Arena | Carolina Hornets
Spectrum Center Arena | Carolina Hornets
The Charlotte Hornets faced a challenging night against the Orlando Magic, resulting in a 95-84 defeat at home. The game was marked by an unusually high number of turnovers from the Hornets, totaling 27, which significantly contributed to their loss. This figure matched their highest turnover count since December 2010.
LaMelo Ball stood out for the Hornets with an impressive performance, scoring 44 points and adding nine rebounds and seven assists. This achievement made him the first player in franchise history to record three consecutive games with at least 35 points. Despite Ball's efforts, the team struggled offensively due to turnovers.
Orlando's Franz Wagner led his team with 21 points, while Cole Anthony and other reserves also contributed significantly to their victory. The Magic capitalized on the Hornets' mistakes, especially during a decisive run in the third quarter that left Charlotte unable to recover.
Despite a strong defensive showing from Charlotte, holding Orlando to low shooting percentages, their offensive issues overshadowed these efforts. The absence of key players like Grant Williams due to injury has further complicated matters for the Hornets.
Hornets Head Coach Charles Lee acknowledged both the defensive strengths and offensive challenges faced by his team: “I thought defensively [our] guys did a really good job of executing the gameplan... Offensively, we got ourselves in trouble with some of our turnovers.”
The Hornets will continue their homestand against the Miami Heat on Wednesday as they seek to improve upon recent performances.
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