Svi Mykhailiuk set a career high with 26 points, but the Charlotte Hornets gave up 90 points in the paint to the Toronto Raptors in the loss.
Summary
The Hornets dug themselves another early hole, but it wasn’t due to turnovers like we saw against the Bulls in the previous game. They simply lost track of Raptors around the basket, which ended up being the trend for the entire game. A number of players had moments or even extended stretches of brilliance on the offensive end, but the defense was disorganized and soft all game long. The Raptors frequently beat the Hornets down the floor in transition and got lost around the rim as soon as the Hornets defense was forced to help, which seemed to be most every possession. The Hornets did keep the game competitive for most of the day but eventually ran out of steam in the fourth quarter.
The Good
Several Hornets set or matched career highs in this game.
- Svi Mykhailiuk: 26 pts
- Xavier Sneed: 9 pts, 3 3PM
- Theo Maledon: 14 asts
- Mark Williams: 7 orebs (tie)
- James Bouknight: 2 consecutive games with 20+ pts
Mykhailiuk chipped in four rebounds and five assists to go along with his career high in points and looked like the best player on the floor for the Hornets.
Bouknight started the game 4-of-4 from deep before he finally missed his first triple. He may have been a bit too enamored with hunting 3-pointers after his hot start, but on the whole he played another collected and efficient offensive game.
Kai Jones had a sequence where he denied Precious Achiuwa with an absurd block and then finished the ensuing fast break with a dunk on the other end. He had some of his usual hiccups, but he also showed improved floor awareness and again showed off his freakish athleticism.
The Bad
The Hornets gave up 90 points in the paint, which feels like it should be some sort of record. The normally slow-paced Raptors repeatedly beat the Hornets down the floor in transition and repeatedly got free for easy dump-offs in the half court. It was not Steve Clifford defense.
Both James Bouknight and Mark Williams looked hobbled at the end of the game. Bouknight appeared to be favoring his upper leg (like his hamstring or thigh), and Williams appeared to have turned his ankle. The Hornets are getting close to not having enough healthy players to field a team.
What’s Next
The Raptors will stay in Charlotte for the next few days. These two teams will face off again on Tuesday night.
