Once again too much LeBron James was too much for Charlotte Hornets
Another matchup with LeBron James, another loss. The Charlotte Hornets’ 115-107 fall at home to the Cleveland Cavaliers was their fifth in a row overall.
It was also their 30th loss in the past 31 games against James, who finished with 31 points, eight assists and six rebounds, despite second-half foul trouble. James was called for two charges (taken by Kemba Walker and Michael Kidd-Gilchrist) but still carried the Cavs 8-7) to the victory.
The Hornets fell to 5-8. Michael Kidd-Gilchrist scored 22 points and Walker added 20 (and seven assists).
Nic Batum had a solid return, with 16 points, six assists and five rebounds in 32 minutes..
Three who mattered
Batum: In his first game back from six weeks out with a torn ligament in his left elbow, Batum made seven of his first nine shots and stole a Cavs inbounds pass for a layup.
James: It’s miserable when he’s making 3-point shots (two of his first three) because then what do you defend first?
Kevin Love: His shooting range pulled Hornets center Dwight Howard out of the lane, pretty much neutralizing Howard’s effectiveness.
Observations
▪ Michael Kidd-Gilchrist (22 points) was solid with his mid-range jump shot, making four of his first seven shots. Making those jumpers is key, so that teams can’t play off him to give help on other Hornets.
▪ Batum’s return to the starting lineup meant Jeremy Lamb played off the bench for the first time this season.
▪ The Hornets had four days between games, but the schedule cranks up quickly; this was the first of seven games in 11 days.
▪ The Cavs had a red-hot start from 3-point range, making five of their first nine attempts. James was 3-for-3.
▪ This was the first of three times this season the Hornets will wear the original pinstripes-and-pleats uniforms. The others are home games against the Milwaukee Bucks (Dec. 23) and Oklahoma City Thunder (Jan. 13).
Worth mentioning
▪ Carolina Panthers coach Ron Rivera and linebacker Thomas Davis were both at the game.
▪ The Hornets entered this game 1-29 against teams with James, since he joined the Miami Heat in 2010.
▪ Original Hornet Muggsy Bogues was in attendance with his family; a nice touch with the return of pinstripes and pleats.
Report card
B OFFENSE: More ball movement (partially due to Batum’s return), but poor 3-point shooting.
C- DEFENSE: They didn’t react well to the Cavaliers’ 5-out sets. Cleveland spread the floor and made 3s.
C COACHING: That’s five consecutive losses. They need a strong performance against the struggling Chicago Bulls Friday.
Rick Bonnell: 704-358-5129, @rick_bonnell
CAVALIERS 115, HORNETS 107
Cleveland | Min | FG-A | FT-A | R | A | F | Pt |
Crowder | 26:48 | 1-6 | 2-2 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 5 |
James | 36:38 | 12-24 | 3-3 | 6 | 8 | 4 | 31 |
Love | 27:17 | 9-16 | 3-3 | 10 | 0 | 3 | 22 |
Shumpert | 33:36 | 2-8 | 2-3 | 4 | 4 | 2 | 7 |
Smith | 31:14 | 4-9 | 0-0 | 5 | 3 | 2 | 10 |
Korver | 23:08 | 3-10 | 2-2 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 11 |
Green | 21:40 | 5-8 | 3-4 | 7 | 1 | 3 | 13 |
Frye | 20:12 | 4-8 | 0-0 | 8 | 1 | 1 | 9 |
Wade | 19:27 | 2-8 | 3-3 | 7 | 5 | 1 | 7 |
Totals | 240:00 | 42-97 | 18-20 | 51 | 25 | 24 | 115 |
Percentages: FG .433, FT .900. 3-Point Goals: 13-38, .342 (James 4-7, Korver 3-10, Smith 2-6, Crowder 1-3, Love 1-3, Frye 1-4, Shumpert 1-5). Team Rebounds: 8. Team Turnovers: 13 (18 PTS). Blocked Shots: 4 (Frye, James, Love, Shumpert). Turnovers: 13 (James 3, Wade 3, Love 2, Crowder, Green, Korver, Shumpert, Smith). Steals: 9 (James 2, Shumpert 2, Smith 2, Wade 2, Love).
Charlotte | Min | FG-A | FT-A | R | A | F | Pt |
Kidd-Gilchrist | 31:15 | 10-14 | 2-2 | 6 | 0 | 2 | 22 |
Williams | 26:37 | 3-7 | 2-2 | 4 | 1 | 2 | 9 |
Howard | 23:10 | 3-5 | 2-6 | 5 | 2 | 6 | 8 |
Batum | 32:04 | 7-15 | 1-2 | 5 | 6 | 0 | 16 |
Walker | 39:06 | 7-17 | 3-6 | 5 | 7 | 1 | 20 |
Kaminsky | 23:14 | 3-7 | 1-1 | 6 | 0 | 1 | 7 |
Zeller | 22:59 | 2-5 | 3-4 | 3 | 1 | 5 | 7 |
Lamb | 21:44 | 4-9 | 5-5 | 5 | 3 | 0 | 13 |
Bacon | 10:57 | 0-2 | 0-0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 0 |
Monk | 8:54 | 2-5 | 0-0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 5 |
Totals | 240:00 | 41-86 | 19-28 | 42 | 21 | 19 | 107 |
Percentages: FG .477, FT .679. 3-Point Goals: 6-26, .231 (Walker 3-9, Monk 1-3, Williams 1-3, Batum 1-6, Bacon 0-1, Kaminsky 0-1, Lamb 0-3). Team Rebounds: 10. Team Turnovers: 13 (14 PTS). Blocked Shots: 7 (Kaminsky 3, Kidd-Gilchrist 2, Williams, Zeller). Turnovers: 13 (Batum 4, Howard 4, Lamb 2, Walker, Williams, Zeller). Steals: 7 (Batum 2, Kaminsky 2, Kidd-Gilchrist 2, Lamb).
Cleveland | 36 | 25 | 27 | 27 | — | 115 |
Charlotte | 30 | 37 | 17 | 23 | — | 107 |
Att.—19,427 (19,077). T—2:15.
Officials—Eric Dalen, Derrick Stafford, Courtney Kirkland
This story was originally published November 15, 2017 at 10:43 PM with the headline "Once again too much LeBron James was too much for Charlotte Hornets."