Spectrum Center | Carolina Hornets
Spectrum Center | Carolina Hornets
The Charlotte Hornets faced another setback in their season, suffering a 123-114 defeat against the Washington Wizards. This loss marks their 11th in the last 12 games, with poor three-point shooting playing a significant role in the outcome.
LaMelo Ball stood out for the Hornets, scoring 34 points and achieving a season-high of 13 assists and four steals. However, his shooting efficiency was lacking, making only 11 of his 32 attempts and hitting just three out of 18 from beyond the arc. Mark Williams and Miles Bridges contributed with 16 points each and tied for a team-high of eight rebounds.
For Washington, Jordan Poole led with 27 points, including five three-pointers. Malcolm Brogdon added 25 points off the bench, while Corey Kispert scored 13 points. Rookie Alex Sarr was close to matching his career high with 19 points.
The game's turning point came when Charlotte held an 86-79 lead late in the third quarter but then allowed Washington to score a decisive 15-0 run. The Wizards maintained control throughout the final quarter by scoring efficiently and sharing the ball well.
Washington's fast-paced play dictated much of the game, leading to numerous quick shots by Charlotte that often resulted in missed opportunities and fast-break chances for their opponents. The Hornets managed only an 18.6% success rate from three-point range, marking one of their lowest performances with at least 40 attempts.
Despite these struggles, Charlotte managed to stay competitive through strong offensive rebounding efforts, securing a significant advantage in second-chance points over Washington.
Hornets Head Coach Charles Lee commented on his team's performance: “We have to be more dialed in on what the gameplan and execution is asking us to do, understanding player tendencies... I want our defensive intensity and purpose to be a lot better… We just have to clean up some of our process areas.”
Looking ahead, Charlotte will face the Philadelphia 76ers next as they conclude this back-to-back series on Friday night.
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