NBA


K.J. Simpson scored a season-high 16 points for the Charlotte Hornets in a 115-106 loss to Denver Dec. 7, 2025, at Spectrum Center.

Third quarter woes led to the Charlotte Hornets’ demise against the Denver Nuggets.

Charlotte (7-17) led the Nuggets (17-6) 58-57 at halftime. But 34% shooting in the third quarter led to a 115-106 loss. 

“In the second half, the start wasn’t us,” Hornets coach Charles Lee said. “It wasn’t our identity. We gave up too many transition buckets, easy leak out buckets where they’re throwing it over our head or not quite matched up. And then I thought that there was just a little bit of a lack of physicality to start that third quarter where, like you’re stuck on a screen or an easy push-off gives them the separation they need to hit a couple of those shots. 

“And then I thought after that point, though, we regrouped. I thought we refocused, and we responded really well the rest of that quarter and the rest of the game. Give them a little bit of credit. They hit a couple shots in some timely moments.”

The bright spot for the Hornets was second-year guard K.J. Simpson, who scored a season-high 16 points and grabbed five rebounds. Simpson has been back-and-forth to the G-League this season, but with LaMelo Ball and Collin Sexton out, Simpson got a chance to step up.

“Obviously, we’re down with a couple guys,” Simpson said, “and I knew today that I had to step up or be one of the people to step up when my name was called, and especially starting to kind of set the tone. I wanted to go in there and do that, whether that was defensively or being aggressive offensively, which I felt like I was able to go out there and do.”

Lee commended Simpson’s performance.

“He’s decisive, aggressive, confident and a little bit more sure of where he wanted to get and what he wanted to get accomplished,” Lee said. “His intentionality and purpose was felt. Zero turnovers I believe tonight after a game where he had seven. So, that is the type of response he normally gives us, the resilience not to hang his head and move on to the next game and move on to the next play. … I thought defensively he was really active, too, so a total overall game for K.J.”

Simpson said his time in the G-League has helped him grow as a player and ultimately make an impact when needed.

“[The G-League] has always helped,” he said. “I’m always talking positively about it because I love those guys there. It’s a great culture we’ve built. Obviously last year, we did special things, broke a lot of records. It’s an opportunity for me to go out there and play heavy minutes when I can. … It allows me to go out there and kind of just play basketball, work on my game, but also just do the things that I know I can do in my role here or down there, trying to perfect it.”

The Hornets have five days off before the Chicago Bulls come to town on Dec. 12. Guard Brandon Miller said the team will use those days to get back to work and become better prepared to focus on improvement.

“We will use the five days to focus on the right things,” Miller said. “Just come back with the mindset to just dominate.”

Comments