The Charlotte Hornets got big games from Brandon Miller, LaMelo Ball, and Kon Knueppel, but it wasn’t enough to beat Stephen Curry and the Warriors.
The Summary
Kon Knueppel fired a corner three the first time he touched the ball, and naturally it hit nothing but net. It was part of a hot start for the Hornets, who took an early lead. The Warriors matched the heat and ended up making it an evenly played first quarter. For a time near the end of the quarter, the Hornets had their full summer league lineup on the floor, and they held their own. The first quarter fittingly ended with the score tied at 30. The second quarter was more of the same with both teams going back and forth with spectacular offensive play. Some Steph Curry magic near the end of the half gave the Warriors a five point lead heading into the break.
Some cold shooting and unfortunate whistles made for a very tough start to the second half for the Hornets. They fell behind by 15, but a Charles Lee timeout seemed to settle the boys down. They worked their way back into the game, then LaMelo took over for a spell to pull the Hornets into the lead. He hit four triples, got a steal, and towered for a defensive rebound as part of the run. The Warriors stemmed the tide a bit, but the Hornets still led by two after three.
Brandin Podziemski hit three quick threes to lead the Warriors on an early surge to start the fourth quarter. The Hornets tried to battle back. Brandon Miller hit a number of tough shots, but the Hornets couldn’t get enough stops on the other end. It was a well played fourth quarter, but the Warriors are tough to beat in those situations. A LaMelo three that would have made it a one possession game late rattled out, an that effectively ended the game.
The good
He struggled from beyond the arc, but Brandon Miller put on a masterclass of scoring inside it. He made pull-up floaters, turnaround jumpers, and off balance layups. He used the glass. He took advantage of size mismatches. He dipsy dooed through traffic. He elevated for some monstrous dunks. He did a little bit of everything, and he was very aggressive looking for his shot. This is the kind of Miller the Hornets need to take the next step as a team. The way he played today, there was nothing the Warriors could do to limit him. It was entirely about his own makes and misses. He’s now topped 30 points in back to back games. Now the 3-point shot just needs to come around.
LaMelo Ball had another class performance as well. He’s been very under control and engaged on both sides of the ball. He spurred the third quarter comeback with plays on both ends of the floor.
Kon Knueppel missed just one game with a twisted ankle and picked up like he never left. It’s like clockwork at this point–an efficient 20 points with a few rebounds, assists, and winning plays mixed in. There’s not much that can be said about him that hasn’t already been said. His incredible rookie season continues.
The Summer Hornets getting some burn in a real game and holding their own was heartwarming. It’s been fun seeing PJ Hall back in the mix after he left us at the end of summer league. The group is everything the Hornets want in their players, and they’re fun to watch on the court together again.
Even in the loss, the Hornets played good basketball, which is becoming more common lately. They were credited with 35 assists on 46 made baskets. The ball was hopping around on the offensive end, and everyone was playing for one another. There was very little to complain about on that end of the floor. The defensive effort could be more consistent, but the trend is moving in the right direction.
The Bad
I can’t think of anything to nitpick, even in the loss. The Warriors made a lot of threes, but they came from places you wouldn’t necessarily expect. It felt like the Hornets were more a victim of hot shooting than they were of their own defensive neglect.
What’s Next
The Hornets get off work early so they can go enjoy the new year. Then they’ll head north to Milwaukee to face the Bucks on Friday.