The Charlotte Hornets lost a nail biter to the Washington Wizards, 124-121, on Monday night.
Gordon Hayward started the game with a catch-and-shoot three. The Hornets were engaged on one side of the floor, the offensive. Their defense was nowhere to be found. Bradley Beal and Kyle Kuzma were able to take full advantage of the holes in Charlotte’s defense. The Wizards got off to a 19-9 lead with six minutes left in the first quarter.
The Hornets offensive efficiency slowed down, despite getting good looks at the basket. For the second straight game, Kelly Oubre Jr. came off the bench and provided scoring punch for the Hornets, getting seven points in his first seven minutes. The Wizards led by 13, 38-25 at the end of the quarter. Washington shot over 50% from the field and hit five shots from downtown as a team.
Charlotte started the second quarter on a 6-0 flurry, but Beal ended it quickly with a 10-foot jump shot. The Hornets forced a couple of miscues, throwing off the Wizards momentum and extended their run to 14-6. The Hornets trimmed the lead to five with just under seven minutes to go in the half.
With Miles Bridges and Hayward running the show, the Hornets took control of the game quickly. The defense continued to apply pressure to the ball-handlers and the Wizards went cold, especially from beyond the arc, shooting 1-9. Bridges and Hayward combined for 21 points in the quarter and the Hornets took an eight point lead into the locker room, 64-56. Bridges had 17 points and nine rebounds, while Hayward had 15, three boards and three assists.
LaMelo Ball connected on a deep triple to start the third quarter. Hayward and Terry Rozier knocked down back to back pull-up jump shots, taking advantage of the mid-range looks Washington had been allowing for the majority of the game.
Beal and Kuzma were the only two constant factors on the offensive end for the Wizards throughout the game and propelled them back in the game, slicing the lead to single digits. The Hornets led by six going into the fourth quarter, 90-84.
The Wizards went on an 11-0 run and the Hornets got into early foul trouble, committing four team fouls in the fourth, forcing coach James Borrego to call a timeout to settle down the troops. The Hornets were trailing by five, 95-90. Returning from the timeout, Hayward and Rozier would halt the Wizards run, with Rozier hitting a three, putting the Hornets back on top, 100-98, with just over six minutes left in the game.
It was a nip and tuck game. Then the duo of Beal and Kuzma reasserted themselves. Even though the Hornets were playing crisp defense and making the correct rotations, it made little to no difference. Rozier made a pair of timely three pointers, however he missed a crucial one down the stretch that would have tied the game at 116 with 39 seconds left. Beal, Davis Bertans, Daniel Gafford and Kuzma all hit free throws to ice the game for the Wizards, 124-121.
“They played well. They made shots. We had plenty of shots to win this game tonight, and we just didn’t,” Charlotte coach James Borrego said. “They made more plays, more shots than us tonight.”
Kuzma had a season-high 36 points and 14 rebounds for the Wizards. “He’s a willing learner. He accepts criticism,” Beal said. “He doesn’t think too highly of himself. He wants to win. You can see that.” Beal scored 35 points, had seven rebounds and eight dimes. Gafford had a double-double with 15 points, 11 rebounds and three rejections.
Hayward led the Hornets with 27 points, eight rebounds and four assists. Rozier scored 25 points and had 5 helpers. Bridges added 23 points and had a season-high 14 boards.
The Wizards host Christian Wood and the Houston Rockets on Wednesday. The Hornets host Cade Cunningham and the Detroit Pistons Wednesday.
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