It was the Miracle After Midnight part 3? 4? The Charlotte Hornets pulled off another improbable comeback in Sacramento to defeat the Kings and snap their 11 game losing streak, 111-104.

Summary

The Hornets unsurprisingly got off to a slow start. They found themselves in a double digit hole about the midway point of the quarter, but a cold finish to the quarter by the Kings helped the Hornets climb back into it. A quick flurry by Terry Rozier, including a jumper that bounced around and fell in in the final seconds, put the Hornets up after one.

The second quarter got off to an equally clunky start for both teams. The Kings were able to make up the modest deficit they found themselves in after the first quarter to take their own thanks to some strong play from De’Aaron Fox both as a scorer and a passer. Rozier ended the quarter with another step back jumper to keep the Hornets within five at the half.

A brief Hornets run gave way to some pickup basketball in the middle part of the third quarter, and it forced Steve Clifford to take a timeout. The timeout only temporarily slowed the pace down, and the game gradually devolved into the same helter skelter track meet that we saw at the start of the quarter. A couple of Malik Monk threes built up the Kings lead, but responses from Rozier and PJ Washington brought the Hornets within three by quarter’s end.

The teams traded baskets for much of the fourth quarter. The Hornets had the misfortune of a wayward Kings pass finding Davion Mitchell in the corner, and the 25% 3-point shooter splashed it. Their luck turned when a challenge overturned a foul call that was going to lead to Malik Monk free throws, and the Kings violated the shot clock on the ensuing inbound. Then the fireworks started. Rozier and Fox traded progressively more difficult baskets in a beautiful display of NBA basketball. The Hornets finally got a couple of stops, and a Cody Martin find of PJ Washington on a backdoor cut then a Martin steal after Fox lost his dribble put the Hornets up three with 42 seconds to play. A couple Kings misses and a handful of Hornets free throws later and the Hornets were cruising to a win.

The Good

There are nights where Terry Rozier plays like a superstar. Tonight was one of those nights. He scored 14 of his 34 points in the fourth quarter, and the majority of those came in true crunch time. The shot making was incredible and the gravity he created at the end of the game opened up the go ahead dunk from Washington.

Miles Bridges played the way that helped him elevate his game a couple of seasons ago. He was quick attacking off the catch and used his strength and physicality to finish around the basket. He ended the night with 29 points. Both he and Rozier have had a strong pair of games to start the new year.

PJ Washington loves playing the Kings, and tonight was another example of why. He finished with 17 points and a game high plus-minus of +16. He’s been a bit to perimeter happy and floaty in recent weeks, but he did a good job of being aggressive and getting into the paint tonight. This is one to build off.

The Hornets did a good job against Domantas Sabonis despite how the box score looks. They crowded his space and took away his passing lanes. Sabonis turned the ball over 11 times, and a lot of the eight offensive rebounds he tallied were off his own missed bunnies.

The Bad

The Hornets struggled with De’Aaron Fox’s one man fast breaks, especially after made baskets. There were a number of instances where the broadcast would cut out of a replay of a made Hornets shot to show Fox making a layup or going to the line after getting fouled. Fox is a unique player and is arguably the best at the league at getting end to end in a hurry, but you’d like to see the Hornets do a better job of anticipating and adjusting to him doing that.

What’s Next

The Hornets will get two whole days off as they start their trek back east. They’ll be in Chicago to take on the Bulls on Friday night.