The Charlotte Hornets keep climbing spots in the Eastern Conference as they try to avoid the play-in, and in their latest visit to New York City they made a statement on the road against a short-handed Brooklyn Nets team without Michael Porter Jr., Terance Mann and Day’Ron Sharpe.
From the opening tip, it was a one-sided contest. Charlotte came out aggressive on both ends of the floor, outscoring Brooklyn 35-18 in the first quarter and setting the tone early. Their ball movement and defensive pressure never really allowed the Nets to find a rhythm throughout the night.
Six Hornets players finished in double figures, but since the trade deadline, the addition of Coby White has been a major factor in the team’s recent surge. His scoring punch and pace off the bench have given head coach Charles Lee another reliable option and added a new dynamic to the offense.
Brandon Miller got things started with a three-pointer from the top of the key and never looked back, finishing as the game’s leading scorer with 25 points. Miles Bridges added 19, while White contributed 16 points off the bench. Fan favorite LaMelo Ball controlled the tempo of the game, ending the night with 14 points, seven rebounds and nine assists.
Key takeaways
After the game, Coach Lee emphasized the importance of maintaining focus coming out of halftime.
“In the third quarter, our level of focus, our commitment to communicating at a really high level and playing with physicality went up and we held them to an 18-point third quarter,” Lee said. “I loved our defensive focus and intentionality… I thought this was a mature victory by the group today, a high-character victory.”
The win not only strengthens Charlotte’s push in the standings, but also marks just the second time since the 2015-16 season that the franchise has reached the 40-win mark. The last time they accomplished this was in 2021-22, when they finished 43-39.
With momentum building at the right time, the Hornets are starting to look like a team that no one wants to face heading into the final stretch of the season.