Takeaways from the Hornets Snapping Their Eight-Game Losing Streak in a Victory Over the Pacers
On Sunday afternoon, the Charlotte Hornets defeated the Indiana Pacers 113-109, snapping their eight-game losing streak. This has been a rough two months for the Hornets as they have dealt with injuries to key players. However, due to these injuries, other players have stepped up and contributed in ways that might see them earning more minutes when breakout stars such as LaMelo Ball, Miles Bridges, and Tre Mann return to the lineup. The victory over Indiana is huge for the Hornets because, with a manageable schedule coming up, they can get out of the cellar in the Eastern Conference.
Brandon Miller led the Hornets in scoring and hit two clutch free throws to seal the win. Miller has been the go-to scoring option since the injury to Ball, who will be out for another week with a calf strain. Miller is averaging 27. 1 points during the losing streak and is making strides on the defensive end. Other players who are making an impact are Josh Green, Tidjane Salaun, and Moussa Diabate. Green who is the starting shooting guard is shooting 43 percent from the field this season and has stepped up his volume of three-point shots during the streak. Salaun, the rookie that the Hornets took with 6th overall pick in last June’s draft has emerged as a threat on the perimeter on both ends of the court. He stands at 6’9 with a 7’1 wingspan making him one of the team's best defenders and has consistently shown that he can make corner threes at a high rate. The 19-year-old Frenchman did suffer an ankle injury in last Thursday's game against the Knicks, but once he returns his presence will surely be felt on both ends of the court. Diabate got called up by the Hornets from the Greensboro Swarm, their G-League affiliate in late November amongst the slide and has provided energy and effort since then. Diabate does not make an impact scoring-wise but his hustle to crash the glass and his effort on the defensive end is something that first-year Head Coach, Charles Lee has taken notice of. The third-year veteran from Michigan could be a contender to start at center as the Hornets continue to monitor Mark Williams back injury.
Overall, the Hornets are 7-17 and sit at 13th in the Eastern Conference. However, with games against Chicago, Washington, and Philadelphia coming up Charlotte can climb further up the standings. They also have tough games against the Rockets and Thunder, but they have the benefit of those games being at home. Getting Ball and Bridges and Mann, back is critical for the Hornets to close out 2024 in a better position than they currently sit in. The trio account for 61 percent of the scoring this season. So, the Hornets look to build momentum now while waiting for their stars to return.
