Don’t think for a second that Charles Lee isn’t human.
The second-year coach of the Charlotte Hornets didn’t refrain from telling the truth, opting to instead admit he’s no different than anyone else.
“Yeah, we all love basketball,” Lee said. “So we watch a ton of games, and as a staff we’re texting back and forth and as players. We’re scoreboard watching and people are talking about it.
Charlotte Hornets guard LaMelo Ball takes a shot as Philadelphia 76ers forward Dominick Barlow defends at the game on Saturday, March 28, 2026 at Spectrum Center in Charlotte. TRACY KIMBALL tkimball@charlotteobserver.com
“But we try to focus on what we can control, which is our daily process. The game right in front of us. A little bit of that football mindset in the sense of you just got to go 1-0 that day. That’s all you can worry about.”
Sounds easy enough. In reality, though, it has to be quite a tough proposition considering the Hornets hold the NBA’s longest postseason drought. Which is what makes Saturday night’s 118-114 loss to Philadelphia at Spectrum Center just the latest important result for the Hornets.
Beating the 76ers would have moved Charlotte (39-35) into a virtual tie for seventh place in the Eastern Conference standings, meaning the Hornets could have climbed to the top of the play-in tournament bracket and eyed moving into the true playoff field if they can catch sixth-place Atlanta.
Instead, the Hornets dropped into 10th place.
“We know these last couple games, we’ve got to fight, we’ve got to claw away to improve our odds of making the playoffs,” Coby White said. “It was [a hurt feeling in the locker room] after the game. We had some good chatter before the coaches came in amongst ourselves about the game, but also how can we not let it bleed into [Sunday].
“How can we come back with a refreshed mind [Sunday], ready to compete?”
Charlotte Hornets players react as guard LaMelo Ball is fouled during the first quarter of the game against the Philadelphia 76ers on Saturday, March 28, 2026 at Spectrum Center in Charlotte. TRACY KIMBALL tkimball@charlotteobserver.com
Here are some key takeaways from the Hornets’ first loss on their seven-game homestand that wraps up Sunday against Boston:
Fourth-quarter blues
Unraveling in the final 12 minutes cost the Hornets.
After posting no fewer than 28 points through the first three quarters, offense betrayed the Hornets in the fourth, when they were outscored 26-17. They failed to make two-point field goals, nailing only 5 of 22 attempts.
Charlotte Hornets guard Brandon Miller drives past Philadelphia 76ers forward Paul George during the game on Saturday, March 28, 2026 at Spectrum Center in Charlotte. TRACY KIMBALL tkimball@charlotteobserver.com
That includes a 5-for-18 showing beyond the arc.
“In that fourth quarter especially, just our defensive focus started to wane a little bit as we were missing shots,” Lee said. “The guys did a good job the last few games of just not letting that be the case ever. Our shotmaking can’t affect our defense and I thought I did a little bit.
“Too many guys just driving without that physicality piece. Too many back doors, too many offensive rebounds and clutch moments. Offensively, I thought that our pace started to slow down a little bit. And we were able to really put them in some compromising situations, created a lot of advantages when we played fast and played with great ball movement.”
Brandon Miller agreed the Hornets can’t mentally check out when the offense goes cold.
“I think just having that mindset going into the game of just being at least two ways no matter the outcome,” Miller said. “If you’re making shots or if you’re not making shots, you’ve still got to have the two-way mindset. So, just continue to have that mindset going into these next games, I think would be good.”
Coby White sparks bench yet again
Where would the Hornets be without Coby White?
Since arriving from Chicago in a key trade deadline move by Hornets president of basketball operations Jeff Peterson, the former North Carolina Tar Heel has stabilized the bench and added plenty of basketball IQ.
White once again led the Hornets’ bench brigade, tossing in 16 points to go with four rebounds and two assists. His play was key in helping the Hornets’ crop of reserves outscore Philadelphia’s non-starters 33-21.
Charlotte Hornets guard Coby White puts up the shot against Philadelpha 76ers center Joel Embiid Saturday, March 28, 2026 at Spectrum Center in Charlotte. TRACY KIMBALL tkimball@charlotteobserver.com
“I just want to be aggressive,” White said. “I give credit to the coaching staff, my teammates. When I first got here, I would say I wasn’t being myself. And they continued to push me to be aggressive. The coaches trust me to make the right play in terms of when I’m driving or the right reads when I’m getting downhill.
“So for me, (it’s) just continue to be aggressive, continue to be myself and just stay locked in. How can I impact winning and staying locked into the habits that they want me to continue to build for this team?’
Nick Nurse: Kon Knueppel ‘a hooper’
Add another member to the Kon Knueppel fan club.
Philadelphia coach Nick Nurse gave props to Knueppel, who became the sixth rookie in NBA history to post at least 25 points, 10 rebounds and five assists with five made 3-pointers in Thursday’s win over New York.
Charlotte Hornets forward Kon Knueppel’s shot is blocked by Philadelphia 76ers Paul George (8) and Kelly Oubre Jr. at the game Saturday, March 28, 2026 at Spectrum Center in Charlotte. TRACY KIMBALL tkimball@charlotteobserver.com
Knueppel leads the NBA in 3-pointers at 253 and is the lone player age 22 or younger in league history to make 250 3-pointers in a season.
“I don’t know if everybody saw all this coming,” Nurse said, “but I think there were some absolute high, high, high remarks and super-high grades that people gave him that he was going to be this good. And he’s been tremendous.
“The shooting is one thing. There’s scoring, there’s toughness, there’s IQ, there’s team player — all those, all those things that looks like he’s exhibited. And he’s been absolutely all that and more.”
Nurse was among the 76ers’ contingent scouting the Duke product leading into the 2025 NBA Draft. Since Philadelphia had the third overall pick, sitting one spot ahead of the Hornets, the organization did extensive homework on Knueppel. And Nurse was impressed with what Knueppel brings to the table.
“Lots of people really liked him in the draft for sure, and he’s proved those people right and the people that didn’t, he’s proved those people wrong,” Nurse said. “For me, I just think he was a hooper, man,” Nurse said. “You just knew he was a competitor, and knew how to play and had lots of pieces to the game as well. He’s again one of those guys that he’ll rebound, he’ll block out, he’ll set screens — he knows how to play all parts of the game.
“And then, of course, he throws on that elite shooting skill … His elite skill is the shooting, and I think that’s what makes him so good, so valuable.”
This story was originally published March 28, 2026 at 9:53 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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