North Charlotte Today

The Charlotte Hornets faced another narrow defeat, this time at the hands of the Philadelphia 76ers with a final score of 110-104. This marks the Hornets' sixth consecutive loss, five of which have been by two or fewer possessions.

Brandon Miller was a standout performer for the Hornets, scoring a game-high 34 points, including seven three-pointers and three rebounds. This achievement extends his streak to eight straight games with at least 20 points and marks his third consecutive game scoring over 30 points. Nick Richards contributed with 22 points and 14 rebounds, marking his sixth career game with at least 20 points and 10 rebounds. Rookie Tidjane Salaün also made an impact by becoming the second-youngest Hornet to record a double-double with 10 points and 10 rebounds.

For the Philadelphia 76ers, Paul George scored 29 points on efficient shooting and added eight assists. Tyrese Maxey also had a notable performance with 21 points, including critical free throws in the fourth quarter.

The turning point came when Charlotte managed to take a brief lead late in the game after trailing by as much as 19 points. However, crucial free throws from Maxey and a turnover by Charlotte allowed Philadelphia to regain control. Maxey sealed the victory with additional free throws and a layup.

The Hornets have struggled in clutch situations recently, having played in an NBA-high number of close games but securing only one win during these moments. Their clutch-time offense ranks higher than their defense statistically.

A positive note for Charlotte was the return of starting center Mark Williams after nearly a year due to injuries. Although on limited minutes, Williams showed potential by contributing four points, three rebounds, and a block.

Rookie KJ Simpson also played significant minutes late in the game, showing growth from previous performances with eight points and career highs in both rebounds (six) and assists (nine).

Hornets Head Coach Charles Lee commented on the team's performance: “I thought today’s close game felt a little bit different than the other ones... I just didn’t think that from the jump we were ready to hoop tonight... In the second half, we do what we usually do. We competed a lot harder.”

Looking ahead, the Hornets will travel to face the New York Knicks on Thursday, December 5th. The team aims to break their five-game losing streak against New York.