Flawed rebounding leads to Hornets loss to Knicks

Charlotte Hornets coach Steve Clifford has been talking a lot more about rebounding lately than his players have tried doing it.

Their propensity for giving up offensive rebounds caught up to them Tuesday. The New York Knicks scored 20 second-chance points in a 102-94 victory at Madison Square Garden.

Hornets point guard Kemba Walker, who grew up in New York, scored a season-high 31 points. Knicks rookie Kristaps Porzingis captured Knicks fans’ attention, finishing with 29 points and 11 rebounds.

The Hornets have a quick turnaround, playing the Brooklyn Nets at home Wednesday, hoping to get back to a .500 record.

[Box score: Hornets versus Knicks]

Three who mattered

Porzingis: Regardless of which Hornets big man guarded him, the Knicks rookie dominated offensively.

Walker: All the way back to playing for Connecticut in the Big East, Walker has thrived playing at Madison Square Garden.

Nic Batum: One day removed from being named Eastern Conference Player of the Week, he missed his first five shots, totaling a single point in the first three quarters.

Observations

▪  Hornets small forward P.J. Hairston missed Tuesday’s game with a contusion of his right quadriceps muscle. Coach Steve Clifford said pregame it’s all but certain Hairston won’t play against the Brooklyn Nets Wednesday and might miss Friday’s game against the Philadelphia 76ers.

▪  With Hairston out, Clifford chose to start Cody Zeller at power forward and move Marvin WIlliams to small forward. That was primarily to have Williams guard Carmelo Anthony. Clifford hoped not to have to use Nic Batum defensively on Anthony until the fourth quarter.

▪  This matchup with the Knicks is when the Hornets really miss Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, likely out for the season with following shoulder surgery.

▪  Jeremy Lamb was able to play Tuesday after missing Monday’s practice with a strained left shoulder.

▪  Hornets entered this game having committed the fewest turnovers (11.7 per game) and fewest fouls (17 per game) in the NBA this season.

Worth mentioning

▪  With Zeller starting, Hornets rookie Frank Kaminsky got 16 first-half minutes.

▪  Batum made his first basket of this game late in the fourth quarter.

▪  Marvin Williams was charged with a Flagrant Foul 2 in the fourth quarter, an automatic ejection.

Report card

B- OFFENSE: The depth provided options other than Batum to carry the scoring load Tuesday.

D DEFENSE: Until they stop giving up so many offensive rebounds they can be only so good defensively.

C COACHING: Defensive rebounding is a basic skill; block out your man and get back the ball.

This story was originally published November 17, 2015 at 11:03 PM with the headline "Flawed rebounding leads to Hornets loss to Knicks."