The Charlotte Hornets, led by Brandon Miller dropped a close one to the Atlanta Hawks in the second edition of the BBQ Series, losing 107-104. Jalen Johnson, who was just one assist shy of a double-double, had a team-high 20 points with 9 assists. The Hornets find themselves in the middle of a tail spin. This was their fifth consecutive loss, continuing their recent history of staying competitive but falling short when it counts. A season ravaged by injuries has made the bottom line, winning, nearly impossible for the Hornets so far in 2024.
It was a balanced scoring attack for the Hawks, with De’Andre Hunter contributing 18 points, Onyeka Okongwu added a double-double with 16 points and 11 rebounds for Atlanta, who have won three straight. Trae Young and No. 1 overall draft pick out of France, Zaccharie Risacher each had 14.
The Hornets came out ready to go on Saturday, attempting to get the sour taste out of their mouths from the day before against the New York Knick, where they lost in heartbreaking fashion, 99-98. They started strong with impressive shooting and ball movement that gave them an early lead. Vasilije Micic, Josh Green, and Cody Martin all had noteworthy scoring performances to keep the game relatively close. Micic displayed signs of shaking off early-season rust and swished a clutch shot late in the fourth to keep the Hornets within striking distance. Nick Richards returned from an injury with a solid performance off the bench, finishing with 12 points, 6 boards, and 3 blocks before collecting his sixth foul late in the fourth quarter.
Miller showed off his sharpshooting ability with 32 points, hitting 7 of 19 from 3-point range. He added 8 rebounds and 4 assists in a strong effort. Miller hit a timely three late in the final frame to trim the lead to one with 10 seconds left. He has been on fire from an individual standpoint. This was his seventh straight game scoring 20 or more points, the longest streak of his short career. With LaMelo Ball sidelined for the next two weeks, Miller will be thrusted into the spotlight and take on a bigger role.
The Hornets’ injury struggles continued to mount. Ball, Miles Bridges, and Tre Mann were all out, leaving the team undermanned in shot-creation.
The projected starting lineup has not played a single game together this season. Mark Williams warmed up before the game and is reportedly close to returning, but he has yet to take the court. With Ball now out for the next two weeks, closing games and staying competitive will be even harder to maintain. Injuries have been a major thorn in the Hornets side all year and a key factor in their struggles.
The Hornets face an uphill climb this season. Tight games might give fans hope in the short term, but this team has not proven they can stay healthy. Bad luck has played a role, like Grant Williams’ season-ending injury, but some players (Mark Williams and LaMelo Ball) now have a pattern and track record of recurring injuries that continue to derail seasons before they get off the ground.
As stated previously, the Hornets have now lost five straight games, dropping them to 12th in the Eastern Conference, 20 games into the season. The one good team that has come out of this disappointment is that coach Charles Lee has kept the team motivated, positive and playing hard. They battle in every game, but without a healthy roster, this season is not shaping up the way fans had hoped and envisioned. It is hard to see the light at the end of the tunnel for Charlotte right now.
The Hawks host Dejounte Murray and the New Orleans Pelicans on Monday night.
The Hornets wrap up a five-game homestand against Tyrese Maxey and the Philadelphia 76ers on Tuesday night.
