You might think that the Charlotte Hornets’ 72-point first half on Tuesday was simply spectacular.
For that, you’d be right.
You might also think that the Hornets’ 72-point first half — a period that precipitated a 134-90 win over the struggling Sacramento Kings — was historically relevant and utterly unbelievable.
And for that, you’d be forgiven.
In the most complimentary of ways, the Hornets’ first-half outburst wasn’t all that special at all. Not for this team, the way it’s playing now, the way NBA players can score today. The last time the Hornets scored 72 in a first half was all the way back ... five days ago. Two games ago. Against the Orlando Magic on March 19. The Hornets haven’t played in another city since the last time they crested the 70-point half barrier.
Now, to add some context, this was only the second 70-point first half in the team’s enchanted season. They scored 69 against the 76ers in January, 67 at Indiana in February, 64 at Boston earlier this month and so on, according to Stat Muse.
The Hornets are a high-scoring bunch that get out to quick runs; coming into Tuesday, they were averaging 58.6 points per first half — 12th most in all the NBA, per Team Rankings.
The only thing that was unbelievable about Tuesday night, in fact, was that the Hornets didn’t break a franchise record. They finished 26-of-55 from beyond the arc; the franchise-record for 3s made in a game was, and still somehow is, 26, in a game against San Antonio last season. Ryan Kalkbrenner had a chance at breaking the record with a corner 3 on the team’s last field-goal attempt with about a minute left; it hit the back rim and bounced safely away from history.
The Hornets’ lead was never vulnerable and saw five players in double figures. The leading scorer was sixth-man Coby White, who finished with 27.
The Hornets, now 38-34, are tied with the Miami Heat for ninth-place in the Eastern Conference — and are now winners of eight of their last 11.
This story will be updated.