Hornets were about to upset the Nuggets in Charlotte until Jamal Murray had other plans
The Denver Nuggets’ Jamal Murray hit a pull-up corner jump shot from 13 feet with 5 seconds remaining for the winning points in a 114-112 victory over the Charlotte Hornets.
Hornets guard Terry Rozier got off a 3-pointer on the game’s final possession, but it bounced off the rim as time expired. Rozier stumbled with the ball that final possession, slowing his attack on Denver’s defense.
Devonte Graham, back from a game missed with a sore left ankle, led the Hornets in scoring with 24 points (plus seven assists). Rozier added 19 points, making five of his nine attempts from 3-point range.
The Nuggets got 14 points, 11 rebounds and eight assists from center Nikola Jokic.
Nice Buzz
The Hornets started the season hot from 3-point range, but that tailed off through the winter. On Thursday, they started this game making five of their first eight 3s. Rozier, the primary veteran acquisition last summer, has shot a career-best 39 percent from 3.
With four 3s in the first three quarters Thursday, Rozier set his career record with 157 3s made this season.
Bee Stings
Live-ball turnovers — when losing the ball doesn’t result in a stoppage of play — has been a focus for Hornets coach James Borrego. The Nuggets had five first-half steals and scored 11 points off nine Hornets turnovers. As small as the Hornets’ margin for error is this season, being outrebounded and committing more turnovers makes it extremely hard to be competitive.
Building Blocks
It looked like the Hornets had given up on center Willy Hernangomez during the first half of the season. The way Borrego is now managing center minutes is quite a departure from that: Cody Zeller and Bismack Biyombo alternate in three-game segments as the starter, but Hernangomez remains the backup either way.
Hernangomez becomes an unrestricted free agent in July. General manager Mitch Kupchak and Borrego will have plenty of data to decide whether Hernangomez should be brought back.
Beyond the Numbers
Malik Monk’s suspension under the NBA’s anti-drug policy was for an undermined period. But an aspect of that suspension — him counting on the active roster without being available — is close to ending. After five games — which will be completed with Saturday’s home game against the Houston Rockets — the Hornets can list Monk as inactive for games.
This story was originally published March 5, 2020 at 9:34 PM.
