Mavericks Get a Dominant Win Over Hornets

The final preseason game for the Charlotte Hornets is now over. They are moving on from Wednesday night’s blowout loss and preparing for Opening Night in less than a week.

Last night’s game was one for the record books. The Dallas Mavericks came to Charlotte on Wednesday and destroyed the Hornets with a 127-59 loss, giving them their second blowout home defeat of the preseason.

This game was so lopsided that the Mavericks scored more points in the first half (61), than the Hornets scored in the entire game (59). The Mavericks built an incredible 70-point lead (127-57) in the waning moments of the contest, a number that was just mind-boggling, especially considering the fact that Luca Doncic only manufactured 10 points in 26 minutes of action.

The Hornets were shorthanded once again without the services of Terry Rozier (left ankle sprain), Gordon Hayward (Health and Safety Protocols) and Kelly Oubre Jr. (right ankle sprain). Miles Bridges (right knee discomfort) left the game in the first half and did not return.

Center Mason Plumlee made his return after missing the Hornets last two games because of health and safety protocols. He finished with four points and four rebounds. Even though his contribution was not big, getting 24 minutes of playing time was good for the big picture.

Charlotte’s offense could never get on track and finished the game shooting a frigid 27% from the field and 3-for-19 from three point range (16%), with 22 giveaways.

“We couldn’t score tonight,” said Head Coach James Borrego afterwards. “We dropped our heads defensively. We got a long way to go. Now we start 0-0. We cleanse it, move forward, get ready for practice on Friday and we play next Wednesday.”

Even on a night when MVP candidate Luka Doncic was not himself shooting the ball, the Mavericks were still able to execute their offense using some of their other players.

Tim Hardaway had a game high 20 points and Kristaps Porzingis added 17, leading a Mavericks squad on over half of their field goal attempt (51%) while turning the ball over only 11 times on the night and allowing a miniscule seven points off those turnovers.

“I thought the energy and effort (were great),” coach Jason Kidd said. “They executed the game plan. I just thought the rim battles – not fouling at the rim – was something that we’ve been working on and talking about.”

There wasn’t much scoring on the Hornets side, but Cody Martin led Charlotte with 11 points. Rookie James Bouknight scored 10 points off the bench. Former Maverick Wes Iwundu played 10 minutes and went 0-4 from the field.

The biggest need for the Hornets at this point is to get healthy. Rozier, Hayward and Oubre combined to appear in just four preseasons games and while these are not thought to be long-term injuries, they cost the team considerable time in an attempt to build continuity and chemistry. Only so much can be accomplished with constant player shuffling and different rotations in preseason and on the practice floor.

“I didn’t anticipate these lineups, these rotations, but that’s okay,” added Borrego. “It’s preseason. There are areas we have to improve regardless. No matter what, the effort has to be there, the attention to detail has to be there. I didn’t anticipate this preseason – I can say that – but we start fresh and hopefully get some healthy bodies back on Friday.”

Borrego stated to the media before the game that Oubre may be the closest to returning to the rotation, while Rozier and Hayward remain day-to-day. The Hornets did however have the benefit of working together during the summer before training camp took place, an experience that is becoming more and more valuable to the organization by the day.

The Hornets make their 2021-22 regular season debut next Wednesday night, October 20, at 7p.m. at the Spectrum Center. They will host the Indiana Pacers.