Hornets play very young, build 15-point lead, but can’t hold off Rockets
The Charlotte Hornets’ rotation was about as young as this group can get Tuesday, and for awhile that gave the Houston Rockets fits.
With four high-priced veterans not playing at all, the Hornets built as much as a 15-point lead. But turnovers burned them, as the Rockets recovered for a 125-110 victory at Toyota Center.
Miles Bridges had one of his best games as a pro, with 20 points and a career-high 15 rebounds. Terry Rozier had his 21st game this season of 20 or more points, finishing with 20. Malik Monk added 19 points off the bench.
The Hornets fell to 16-35. They are only 2-20 this season against teams currently with winning records. The Rockets (32-18) got 40 points from James Harden, along with 11 assists and nine rebounds.
The Hornets committed 17 turnovers to the Rockets’ five.
Nice buzz
The Hornets built a first-half lead of as much as 15 points by attacking one of the Rockets’ few weaknesses — size inside. Houston has played small constantly of late and the Hornets built up a 33-20 rebounding advantage before halftime. Bridges, playing power forward for the second consecutive game, had a near double-double — 10 points and nine boards at halftime.
Bee stings
Before the game, Hornets coach James Borrego was asked what was essential in guarding Harden; Borrego said you must be careful about fouls, because Harden is so adept at piling up free throws. Harden made 11 trips to the foul line in the first half, making them all.
Building blocks
Hornets second-round pick Cody Martin got the first start of his NBA career. He was coming off a career-high 13 points Monday against the Orlando Magic, making all six of his shots from the field. P.J. Washington, returning from missing two games with an ankle sprain, was a non-starter for the first time this rookie season. Experimenting with starting Martin, and getting Bridges more minutes at power forward, are things coach James Borrego has the latitude to try right now.
Beyond the numbers
Borrego said in September he didn’t view it as his concern which of his players had the highest salaries, the largest contracts. or who was drafted when. He’s coached that way all season, but never has the youth movement looked more pronounced than Tuesday: Four veterans who combine to make nearly $70 million this season — Nicolas Batum, Bismack Biyombo, Marvin Williams and Michael Kidd-Gilchrist — didn’t play at all in the first half.
Of those four, Williams had been playing of late. Washington’s return, and the minutes Martin has earned, moved Williams out of the rotation Tuesday.
This story was originally published February 4, 2020 at 10:26 PM.
