Frustrated in Philadelphia. How the Hornets reacted after tough ending in OT loss to 76ers
It’s really a pattern now.
Through the first month-plus of the season, through all the injuries that have cropped up, there’s been a constant for the Charlotte Hornets. And it revolves around their highest-paid player, who’s in the initial year of a max rookie contact extension.
LaMelo Ball leads the NBA in fourth-quarter scoring and that prowess was on full display again Sunday night, with the Hornets’ star point guard nearly rescuing them from an outing chock full of turnovers and ice-cold shooting.
But Ball’s heroics weren’t enough and the Hornets just couldn’t make the requisite plays in the closing moments of a 107-105 overtime loss to the Philadelphia 76ers at Wells Fargo Center that snapped Charlotte’s two-game winning streak.
Ball poured in 21 of his game-high 38 points in the fourth quarter and overtime, hitting a wild turnaround corner 3-pointer to send the game to the extra session, proving once again just how quickly he can take over.
“That’s every game,” Brandon Miller said. “I expect it every game. It’s not anything surprising. I think that’s what he does, is play at a high clip in this league. And he’s going to keep getting better every day.”
Which could be a scary thing for the opposition.
“No moment is too big for him,” coach Charles Lee said, “because he works on his game and he just has the inner confidence in himself.”
So much so that he took a calculated gamble in the waning seconds, one that almost turned the game upside down given the ramifications. And all Ball could think about was the crazy sequence at the end of overtime, when he appeared to cleanly knock the ball away from Jared McCain with 16.3 seconds remaining but got whistled for a foul as he was about to grab the ball and motor down to the other end virtually unscathed.
The call got overturned, but a jump ball was awarded instead, much to Ball’s confusion.
“The only thing off the top of my head is that steal,” Ball said. “I got the steal and they called the challenge. Won the challenge, I felt like I should have just laid it up and we gone. I don’t know what to think right now. Go home, watch some film and then I’ll have a different answer.”
Crew Chief Courtney Kirkland later explained why the call was reversed.
“After looking at the replay review, it was clear and conclusive that LaMelo Ball deflected the ball with his left hand prior to there being any contact,” Kirkland told a pool reporter. “Because it was clear and conclusive, we were able to overturn the call.”
However, ruling it a jump ball didn’t sit too well with the Hornets (4-6).
“I feel like you can’t make that call in that type of game,” Ball said. “Nah, nah, nah.”
Just getting to overtime seemed like an upset in itself for the Hornets, given their 19 turnovers through the first four quarters. And the absence of the Hornets’ two seven-footers — Mark Williams (foot) and Nick Richards (shoulder) — was never more apparent than against the 76ers.
Philadelphia, on the strength of centers Andre Drummond and Guerschon Yabusele, did just about anything it wanted inside until things tightened up in the fourth.
Slowing down what seemed to be a conga line on the interior put the Hornets in prime position to steal one against a team that was missing suspended Joel Embiid and typically has Charlotte’s number.
“It’s tough because at the end of it, you want it to be decided by us, the guys on the floor,” Grant Williams said. “It felt like it wasn’t. But at the end of the day, we’ve got to control things that we can control and do better. Not only supporting one another whether it’s on rebounding in the crucial end of the game or just getting more organized on the offensive end to get shots we want to accomplish.
“That’s the two biggest things because I think we did a good job. So, it wasn’t like it was a super high-scoring game. But we can be better taking care of the basketball, myself, I’ve got to make these open looks. I had a couple of wide-open ones that I kind of tricked off and missed. It’s just getting back into it and knocking down that rhythm.”
Moussa Diabate chipping in
Back in training camp and before the regular season began, Moussa Diabate wasn’t quite sure what to expect. Mark Williams and Nick Richards were ahead of him in the pecking order and Diabate knew a lot would have to happen for him to get some serious playing time.
But injuries to Williams and Richards thrust Diabate into the rotation and he’s beyond thrilled to be playing.
“It’s great, it’s a blessing,” Diabate said. “All people that are in my position always want that and that’s the thing. So for me, it’s just a blessing and I’m happy to do it. Yeah, just thank God it’s working out right now. So I’ve just got to stay locked in and keep doing what I’ve got to do.”
Diabate collected 11 rebounds against Philadelphia, which pales in comparison to the career night he turned in during Friday night’s win, when he snatched 15 rebounds and totaled 11 on the defensive end. He’s the first player in franchise history and 28th in NBA history to amass 15 rebounds while not scoring and couldn’t be prouder of the feat.
“Honestly, it’s just my role, what’s asked of me to do,” Diabate said. “Play hard, give life to the team and just give everything I have. I think those are the things that I’m coming in to do. I’m not really pressed about the points or anything like that. So, anything like that, I just want to make an impact and help the team win. That’s my biggest strength — playing hard.”
Especially on the offensive glass, where he snared three more against the 76ers.
“Just keeping possessions alive,” Miller said. “That’s all we can ask for, just that and him working hard every day, pushing the other bigs and making them better everyday.”
Diabate’s motor doesn’t seem to have an off button.
“I think I’m just relentless,” Diabate said. ”That’s the main thing. Just stay at it. That’s the main thing that I always try. I think that most people mentally, they don’t like being challenged every single possession. And I’m a big believer that if I keep doing the right things and I keep being relentless, things are going to come towards me. So, that’s the main thing, just mentally keep challenging the opponent.”
This story was originally published November 11, 2024 at 12:04 AM.
