The Charlotte Hornets may not have won, but they were at least competitive as they lost to the Dallas Mavericks, 103-96.
The summary
Mark Williams got called for two quick fouls during a very sloppy start to the game for both sides. He had to leave the game due to the foul trouble. Meanwhile the Hornets took nearly three minutes to get their first points from a Nick Smith Jr. floater. They struggled to contain Mavericks penetration defensively, and that led to a bunch of dump offs to Moses Brown. But despite the slow start, the Hornets hung around and managed to make it a one point game by quarter’s end.
KJ Simpson put the Hornets ahead with a three to start the second, and that was promptly followed by another three from NSJ. The little 3-point barrage was followed by a dry spell that allowed the Mavericks to come back and even the game up. The teams went back and forth through the end of the half, which ended with the Hornets still trailing by one. In the last few minutes, Mark Williams started to find his footing in the game and threw in a couple of baskets inside.
Someone seemingly reminded Williams that the Mavericks have no centers during halftime. He picked up where he left off at the end of the first half and scored the first 11 Hornets points of the second to help the good guys to a modest lead. Offense was harder to come by after Williams subbed out and went into the fourth quarter down six.
Miles Bridges hit back to back threes a few minutes into the fourth to tie the game. Nick Smith Jr. followed that with a couple of midrangers, but Kyrie Irving went superstar mode to keep the Mavs ahead. A couple of rough offensive possessions by KJ Simpson led to five straight Mavericks points that put the game out of reach with a little over a minute to play.
The Good
The Hornets actually played a competitive basketball game. After having the worst three game stretch in NBA history, it was relieving to at least look like an NBA team against another NBA team, even in the loss.
Mark Williams should’ve dominated this game, and he did that on the glass and on offense. I thought he could have made more of an impact defensively, but he overwhelmed the Mavericks inside on offense, particularly in the second half.
KJ Simpson got his second straight start and had another pretty good game. He has his limitations as a ball handler and smaller person, but he does a good job being a pest with his effort level and displayed some decent shot making on the night.
Eric Collins with an all time line: “Moses had a conversation with God before the game” referring to Moses Brown and Mavericks assistant coach God Shammgod.
The Bad
After coming out of the gates red hot, Damion Baugh has struggled to put the ball in the cup, to put it lightly. He scored 30 points in his first two NBA games. In the three games since, he’s scored 15 points on 4-of-29 shooting from the field and 2-of-15 shooting from three. I really like his activity and effort level, but the shooting display has been tough to watch.
DaQuan Jeffries has been just as tough to stomach offensively, though I don’t quite like his floor game as much as Baugh. He was 2-of-8 last night and is now shooting comfortably below 30% from the field and 15% from three for the month of February. Both Jeffries and Baugh have been relatively high usage despite their struggles, and it’s hurt the Hornets offense.
The Hornets only registered three steals and two blocks. The Mavericks had 19 stocks. Defense is more than box score stats, but that low a number suggests that the Hornets weren’t being nearly disruptive enough on the defensive end.
What’s Next
The Hornets finally get to come home and rest their heads in their own beds. They’ll have Friday off before hosting a Wizards team that’s been terrible all season except when they’re playing the Hornets.
