Miles Bridges scored 35 points as the Charlotte Hornets overcame a 17 point first half deficit to beat the Raptors in overtime.
The Summary
The Hornets found themselves in an immediate 14-2 hole to start the game. The Raptors pushed the pace and found open shots while the Hornets pounded the air out of the ball and forced up bad shots. They eventually stabilized and played the Raptors even for a while despite continuing to struggle with the Raptors’ pace. They finally buckled down on the defensive end late in the half, which helped them go on a run to get back within reach of the visitors at the break.
The Hornets maintained the momentum they had built in the second quarter and played a competitive third. Three Brandon Miller free throws and a runner briefly pulled the Hornets within a point, but Immanuel Quickley responded with a three. That would be theme of the quarter. The Hornets would make a small push, but the Raptors would answer before the Hornets would get a chance to take the lead.
The Raptors got a couple of quick buckets to start the fourth and looked like they were going to run away with the game. The Hornets clamped down about midway through the quarter. That got the crowd going, and the offense followed suit. They rattled off 12 straight points, the last of them an offensive rebound and putback by Sion James to tie the game. Immanuel Quickley broke the tie with a goofy floater, and Miles Bridges missed a free throw on the other end with a chance to re-tie it after getting fouled on an attempted tip-in.
After a pair of Scottie Barnes free throws, Charles Lee drew up a play to get Kon Knueppel a look in the corner. He hesitated a bit, but he eventually let it fly and splashed it. Brandon Ingram missed a potential game winner over a great contest by Sion James.
Miles Bridges scored seven points to start overtime and ended up scoring 10 total in the extra frame. He carried the offense while the defense finally started forcing misses and mistakes out of Quickley and Brandon Ingram. With the Hornets up four and time winding down, the Raptors tried to trap Knueppel on the inbound. He stayed composed and found Brandon Miller as an outlet, and Miller relayed that into a lob to Bridges that sealed the deal.
The Good
Miles Bridges has stepped his game up in the two wins. He’s been aggressive while being better about his shot selection and decision making. He started out quiet but took over the game in crunch time in the fourth quarter and overtime. He’s acting like a leader on this team, and they’ve followed his lead with him playing this more engaged and focused brand of basketball. He finished with a season high 35 points.
Kon Knueppel continues to impress. He bounced back from a couple of rough shooting nights to contribute what’s become a commonplace 20 points on just 10 shots. He was 4-of-7 from three, and I think two of the misses were rushed shots with the shot clock on his back. He hit the biggest shot of the night with his corner three to force overtime, and he reacted as if he just made the game’s first basket. He’s a killer.
Collin Sexton, like Bridges, has found a better balance of being aggressive while staying under control in the back to back wins. He chipped in a couple of big buckets of his own in the fourth quarter and overtime. With LaMelo on a minutes restriction, Sexton ran point to help bring the comeback home.
Moussa Diabate mixed the game up quite a bit. He had a crucial steal in overtime to help the Hornets keep their lead. He finished the game a +19 and he earned every bit of that plus-minus. He matched the Raptors energy after the Hornets came out sluggish and he was very disruptive on the glass and on the defensive end of the floor.
A lot gets made about LaMelo the person and teammate. The camera showed him on the bench when Sion James made the game tying bucket late, and there was not a happier person on the planet than LaMelo in that moment.
The Bad
It was a really rough evening for Brandon Miller. He missed all six of his threes, and I think every single one was on line but short. We’ll chalk it up to it being his first back to back of the season.
Sion James airballed a couple of wide open threes. We need him to keep his confidence shooting those shots.
Ryan Kalkbrenner needs to get quicker and stronger with the ball. There were several possessions where the Raptors started hacking at the ball while he held it waiting for handoffs and outlets. He struggled with the physicality. He’s going to have to get stronger and more composed in those situations as he gets more experience.
What’s Next
The Hornets head north for a couple of games in the city of New York. That starts with a visit to the Nets on Monday.