Offense disappeared for Hornets second half versus Wizards on the road
The Charlotte Hornets picked an odd time and place to forget how to score.
Against a Washington Wizards defense that has been terrible all season, the Hornets scored just 19 points in the third quarter and 47 in the second half to lose 121-107.
Ten observations from the game played Thursday night at Capital One Arena in Washington, DC:
▪ Forward Miles Bridges (23 points) was so active offensively, particularly in traffic under the basket. Sometimes it looks like his confidence has been dented this season. Not Thursday.
▪ Point guard Devonte Graham nearly missed Tuesday’s game against the New York Knicks due to illness. The Hornets have had both point guards — Graham and Terry Rozier — for every game this season. Coach James Borrego said Wednesday that if he needs an emergency third point guard, the candidates are Malik Monk, Nic Batum and Cody Martin.
▪ The Hornets gave up a five-point halftime lead in the third quarter, scoring just 19 points in that period (after 60 in the first half) against arguably the NBA’s worst defensive team.
▪ P.J. Washington suffered a sprained right ankle in the second half, but it wasn’t serious enough to keep him from returning to the game.
▪ The Hornets in general and P.J. Washington in particular kept attacking Wizards forward Davis Bertans on offense. Bertans is a great 3-point shooter, but he looked helpless defensively much of the game. He got so frustrated in the third quarter he was charged with a technical foul.
▪ The Hornets have prioritized shot value this season, as in they’re mindful of a high percentage of attempts either at the rim or from 3-point range (limit mid-range jump shots). That the Hornets scored 44 of 60 points in the lane in the first half showed great offensive efficiency.
▪ Borrego went with the same lineup as Tuesday’s home victory over the Knicks, which broke an eight-game losing streak. That rotation pushed further than previously this season toward a lean to youth — no Batum, Bismack Biyombo or Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, three of the four veterans with the most NBA experience.
▪ The Hornets got off to a fast start, building a 10-point lead. Among their biggest flaws this season have been slow starts.
▪ Wizards star Bradley Beal was probably angry Thursday that the Eastern Conference coaches left him off the All-Star reserves. He scored 25 first-half points. That Beal would have a big game might have been inevitable, but the Hornets helped him along by sending Beal to the foul line 12 times before halftime (he made 11).
▪ The Hornets came into this game with as many victories on the road as they have at home (eight each). Borrego said at practice Wednesday that his team seems more focused and energized to start games on the road. The word he used was “thrust.”
When do the Charlotte Hornets play next?
Charlotte (16-32) is at San Antonio (21-26) at 9 p.m. Saturday (Fox Sports Southeast).
Charlotte Hornets Washington Wizards NBA box score
CHARLOTTE (107)—Bridges 8-17 4-4 23, Washington 7-10 1-4 15, Zeller 3-9 3-5 9, Graham 4-13 0-0 11, Rozier 8-21 4-4 21, Hernangomez 6-8 0-0 12, M.Williams 1-3 0-2 2, Co.Martin 3-6 0-0 7, Monk 3-12 0-0 7. Totals 43-99 12-19 107.
WASHINGTON (121)—Beal 7-16 14-15 34, Bonga 3-7 2-2 9, Mahinmi 3-5 0-0 6, Payton II 1-3 0-0 2, Thomas 6-14 2-2 18, Bertans 1-8 3-3 6, Bryant 9-11 3-4 21, J.Williams 1-1 0-0 2, Brown Jr. 5-12 1-1 12, Schofield 0-0 0-0 0, Smith 5-9 0-0 11. Totals 41-86 25-27 121.
Halftime—Charlotte 60-55. 3-Point Goals—Charlotte 9-30 (Bridges 3-7, Graham 3-11, Monk 1-4, Rozier 1-7), Washington 14-37 (Beal 6-12, Thomas 4-10, Bonga 1-2, Brown Jr. 1-3, Smith 1-3, Bertans 1-6). Fouled Out—Charlotte None, Washington 1 (Mahinmi). Rebounds—Charlotte 38 (Rozier, Zeller 7), Washington 57 (Beal 9). Assists—Charlotte 32 (Graham 8), Washington 24 (Beal 9). Total Fouls—Charlotte 24, Washington 22. A—15,013 (20,356)
This story was originally published January 30, 2020 at 9:31 PM.
