Blinders.
That’s basically what Charles Lee suggested the Charlotte Hornets are fully equipped with as they embark on their longest string of games at Spectrum Center during the 2025-26 campaign.
“We’re not thinking about it as a seven-game homestand or anything like that,” the coach said. “We’re in a phase right now where it’s one day at a time, one game at a time, one practice at a time — and how can we get better? How can we stay hungry and get back on track to play our style of basketball, with competitiveness and togetherness on both sides of the floor?”
Lee’s Jedi mind trick is off to a good start.
Whether the Hornets want to admit it or not, with them immersed in a chase to end the NBA’s longest current playoff drought, it’s imperative to take care of business and stack as many victories as possible. Which is why their 136-106 triumph over the shorthanded Miami Heat on Tuesday night could be a springboard for a homestand that likely will have major ramifications on where things stand with the Hornets come April.
Charlotte Hornets guard LaMelo Ball (1) releases the ball over Miami Heat guard Davion Mitchell during the first quarter of the game Tuesday at Spectrum Center in Charlotte. TRACY KIMBALL tkimball@charlotteobserver.com
With 13 games remaining in the regular season, the Hornets (35-34) find themselves in a fight for play-in tournament positioning. Currently in 10th place in the Eastern Conference, they are 2.5 games behind Philadelphia and have an outside shot at climbing higher in the standings if they can take care of business the way they did against the Heat.
“Down the stretch, you can’t just take these games for granted,” Hornets guard Coby White said. “So now you’re coming out, it can’t be one of those things like, ‘Oh, we’ll get them tomorrow’ or ‘We’ll get them next game.’ Every moment counts, every moment matters, every possession matters, and you just can’t take it for granted.
“So, you’ve got to be in the moment, be in the present and do what you can. Sometimes the way basketball works, stuff just don’t go your way. But you can’t sit after the game and say, ‘I wish I could have did this, I wish I could have did that.’ You just can’t take it for granted.”
At least the fans are trying to do their part to assist.
By packing the 20-year-old arena to the tune of 19,478 against the Heat, the Hornets tied the franchise’s single-season record for sellouts at the edifice at the corner of Trade and Caldwell with 16. And the Hornets have noticed.
“That energy, it definitely fuels us,” Lee said. “ Ref makes a call, they throw the replay up there, home crowd going crazy. … I think that our guys are already motivated as consistent competitors, but then I think that that gives you another bit of juice, another gear to kind of get to.
“We definitely fed off of that and need that continued support as we go game-by-game here on this homestand.”
As LaMelo Ball said: “It’s all love. Like I’ve been saying, when you win, this city is going to get behind you and rock with you. So that’s all we are trying to do. Just keep winning and trying to put on for the city.”
Here are some of the other key takeaways from the Hornets’ win over Miami.
Near triple-double for LaMelo Ball
A little home cooking apparently served as decent fuel for LaMelo Ball.
The Hornets star guard nearly recorded a triple-double, tossing in 30 points to go with 13 assists and six rebounds. Although Ball didn’t tear it up behind the 3-point arc, draining just 4 of 12 attempts, he was an efficient 11 for 22 overall and also went to the free-throw line five times.
Following consecutive games without a single trip to the free-throw line at the outset of the road trip, Ball has had at least four appearances at the line in two of his last three games. But that’s not what stuck out most to Charles Lee.
“Defense,” Lee said. “There were some defensive possessions where he’s closing out, slide stepping, keeping the guy in front. He had a couple of big-time defensive rebounds where there’s really good physicality.
“And then I thought as he kind of slowed down, early in the game, kind of got sped up with some of their pressure and stuff and as the game went on, he found a rhythm, he found a groove.”
Ball also pointed to the Hornets digging in during the final two quarters.
“In the second half, we all kind of locked in on defense,” Ball said. “Just taking pride in one-on-one matchups. I felt like it was a good team effort.”
Earning minutes
Charles Lee had a good dilemma on his hands.
For the first time in his season-plus at the helm, Lee’s full roster is at his disposal. Save for Tidjane Salaun, who’s nursing a left calf strain, the Hornets are relatively healthy as they head down the stretch.
Charlotte Hornets forward Miles Bridges drives toward the basket as Miami Heat guard Terry Rozier defends Tuesday at Spectrum Center in Charlotte. TRACY KIMBALL tkimball@charlotteobserver.com
That means Lee has multiple options at various positions, allowing him to interchange lineups and insert individuals depending on certain matchups. It also means not everyone will get to play as much as they may like.
Reserves, in particular, will have to earn their minutes even more now.
“Show us how you are going to impact winning, how are you going to impact the team?” Lee said. “It’s not always scoring. Obviously, that’s the name of the game to put the ball in the basket and you’ve got to have some guys out there to do that.
“But then if you are probably not one of those high-volume scorers, how are you also impacting the game with your defensive intensity, your ability to rebound on both ends of the floor? And that’s how my rotation starts to work as we get to this time of the season. I want to have the most competitive, most together guys out there.”
Fighting foul trouble
Foul trouble has plagued Moussa Diabate a bit of late, causing him to take a seat more often than he’d prefer. But that wasn’t the case against the Heat.
Charlotte Hornets forward Moussa Diabate dunks the ball during the first quarter of the game against the Miami Heat on Tuesday at Spectrum Center in Charlotte. TRACY KIMBALL tkimball@charlotteobserver.com
Diabate registered three fouls in 31 minutes, using his time efficiently to post eight points, 13 rebounds and four assists. He understands the importance of being available and how much better the Hornets are when he’s not having foul issues.
“For sure, big time,” Diabate said. “I’m just really trying to lock in on keeping hands out, trying to do a great job of sliding my feet and not standing on the side. It’s basketball. Fouls are going to happen. But I think the most important thing is not shying away from the contact. Sometimes what happens is you get into foul trouble early and you don’t want to use physicality no more. And that’s not something I want to do.
“Fouls are going to happen, but I’ve definitely got to be smarter for sure.”
Diabate has also battled something else over the past month: ensuring he has enough energy during Ramadan. Observed by Muslims worldwide, Ramadan is the ninth month of the Islamic lunar calendar and features a holy period of fasting, prayer and reflection.
That changes things up for Diabate.
“You can’t drink or eat, so especially early games, back-to-backs it requires a lot more,” Diabate said. “Definitely more sleeping-wise, nutrition-wise and I think it’s a mental thing. It’s a challenge that I put on myself. At the end of the day, no excuses. That’s my belief and my religion, so I’m just going to do what I’ve got to do.”
Even if it could be quite difficult to push through.
“Over time it takes more and more,” Diabate said. “At the beginning, it’s always easier, and as times goes on it’s like, ‘Ok, your body starts feeling it.’”
This story was originally published March 17, 2026 at 10:10 PM.
The Charlotte Observer
Roderick Boone joined the Observer in September 2021 to cover the Charlotte Hornets and NBA. In his more than two decades of writing about the world of sports, he’s chronicled everything from high school rodeo to a major league baseball no-hitter to the Super Bowl to the Finals. The Long Island native has deep North Carolina roots and enjoys watching “The Fresh Prince of Bel Air” endlessly.
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