The Charlotte Hornets wrapped up their home schedule with a loss to the Memphis Grizzlies, 124-100.

The Summary

The Hornets got off to about as poor start as they could. It took about three and a half minutes to score a point, and they turned the ball over in bunches. The Grizzlies capitalized on the transition opportunities to pour in points and took a 15 point lead into the second quarter.

The second quarter was much better. The Hornets were able to knock down a few threes while not turning the ball over, which is always a good way to make the offense look better. The Grizzlies struggled a bit on the other end and let the Hornets chip a little bit off the lead here and there, but they started to pull away again late in the half. The game came to a screeching halt around that time after Jaylen Wells took a hard fall thanks to a bad play by KJ Simpson and had to be taken off the court on a stretcher. The teams played a pretty listless final minute or two of the half and went into the official break with the Grizzlies up 19.

The Grizzlies added to their lead early in the third quarter and kept it in the twenties for most of the period. Moussa Diabate had a couple of nice dunks. Tidjane Salaün hit a three. The teams went back and forth within that 20+ point cushion and ended the third with the Grizzlies up 23.

Ja Morant hit a couple of threes with Mark Williams sagging off in switch coverage then found Jaren Jackson Jr. in the corner for another three to put an early dagger through the Hornets. The benches started clearing and the Grizzlies cruised to their comfortable win.

The Good

Tidjane Salaün made three 3-pointers, and two of them were off side steps at the end of the shot clock. The free throw shooting wasn’t great, but he impacted the game in his usual motory ways while hitting his jumpers. That’s the version of Tidjane the Hornets want to see next season.

The bench as a whole had what was probably one of their best games of the season statistically. They combined to score 55 points on 20-of-33 shooting from the field and 6-of-15 shooting from three. The bench has been a problem for the Hornets all season, but they actually picked up the starters last night.

On that note, Josh Okogie was the only starter that turned in a decent performance. He didn’t have any real notable defensive plays like he normally does, but he hit his shots and had a respectable line in limited minutes.

Taj Gibson appeared in game number 999 for his career.

The Bad

KJ Simpson undercut Jaylen Wells on a fast break dunk and sent him careening to the floor. Wells had to be taken out of the arena on a stretcher due to the risk of a head injury. He’s been awake and alert, but he broke his wrist. It was a reckless and unnecessary block attempt. You somewhat appreciate the effort, but Simpson had no chance to do anything productive. He was rightfully ejected for the play. I do feel for him though. He was clearly distraught about what he did.

If anyone follows other Charlotte sports, that makes it twice in four days that a Charlotte player has sent an opposing player to the hospital. In Charlotte FC’s game on Saturday, winger Kerwin Vargas attempted a bicycle kick and caught Nashville SC captain Walker Zimmerman square in the face. He was also stretchered off and taken to the hospital. This is not something Charlotte needs to be known for.

Miles Bridges and Mark Williams both did a whole lot of nothing as the starters got run out of the gym.

There was some person? Kid? yelling during Hornets free throws in the second half and they were incredibly annoying.

What’s Next

That’s a wrap on the home slate for the 2024-25 season. The Hornets close the season out with three road games. That starts later tonight north of the border.