Source: Jared C. Tilton / Getty
The Hornets came into this weekend looking to get back on track after three straight losses that included one to the lowly Rockets. The team was able to do just that last night with a 130-127 win in Atlanta despite the team being short-handed without three starters, LaMelo Ball, Terry Rozier and Mason Plumlee, and one role player in Jalen McDaniels who were all placed in COVID protocols on Saturday afternoon as first reported by Stadium’s Shams Charnia.
Behind a big performance from Miles Bridges, who dropped 32, and another outstanding performance from Kelly Oubre Jr., the Hornets were able to survive and pick up what some were calling the biggest win of the season. Cody Martin had a big night in his return to the lineup after missing the previous two games due to an illness, scoring 19 points off the bench and finishing that night with a +22 plus/minus split, proving just how valuable he is to this team on both ends of the floor this season. Ish Smith also had a strong performance with 18 points and 7 assists in his most extensive outing of the season after being relegated to an end of the bench role earlier this season.
Rod Boone, the Hornets beat reporter from the Charlotte Observer, joined Mac and Bone this morning to talk about the Hornets’ strong showing last night, which he said showed off the depth of this team. “James Bouknight, you figure last night was his chance to kind of go out there and do his thing and he played six minutes. It’s not an indication of him; it just shows how deep the team is.” That depth will get a stiff test tonight, though, on the second game of a back-to-back, a scenario that the Hornets are winless in so far this season.
Unfortunately, last night was not just a one-game scenario for the Hornets as Boone said this morning. “Barring something crazy happening where you can get some guys with two negative tests in 24 hours of each other, you won’t see these guys until at least ten days out which would probably be next Monday or Tuesday at the earliest.” That means more heavy lifting for guys like Bridges, Oubre and Gordon Hayward and possibly more playing time for the rookies.
The Hornets will tip-off against the Philadelphia 76ers at 7:00 PM from the Spectrum Center right here on WFNZ with the voice of the Hornets, Sam Farber. Kyle Bailey and Travis “T-Bone” Hancock will get you going an hour before tip with the Hornets pregame here on Sports Radio FNZ.
