75
98
In our preview of the game between the Charlotte Hornets and Oklahoma City Thunder that I did back on Wednesday, we said that the Charlotte franchise in the modern era(2004-present) hasn't won a game at Chesapeake Energy Arena since the Thunder arrived in Oklahoma City in 2008-09. Well, the streak continued last night, as the Thunder ran up the score on Charlotte early and often, and ending the Hornets 4-game win streak with a 98-75 margin, dropping Charlotte to 10-20 on the season.
The number one reason why Charlotte couldn't come away with the win: Russell Westbrook. He totally went off on Charlotte last night, scoring 29 points for a Oklahoma City team that many thought was going to struggle after playing on Christmas Day back on Thursday, but Scott Brooks saw it as an opportunity for the team to carry that momentum in to last night's game.
"We talk about playing a defensive brand every night in back-to-back games to come back with a defensive effort for 48 minutes." said Brooks, as Oklahoma City held Charlotte to just 87 points, ending a streak of games that saw the Hornets reach 100 points.
Westbrook led the way with 29 points for the Thunder, on 11-of-21 shooting from the field, while Serge Ibaka got in on the fun with 13 points and rounding out the group of double-figure scorers for Oklahoma City was Charlotte native Anthony Morrow with 11 points.
The lone bright spot for the Hornets in the loss was Brian Roberts with 17 points off the bench. Tonight, the Hornets look to start up a new win streak as they welcome in the Orlando Magic to Time Warner Cable Arena for a 7:10 p.m. start.
105
101
Last night before a sold-out Time Warner Cable Arena crowd of 19,381, it wasn't Stephen Curry or Klay Thompson that stole the show for the Golden State Warriors, it was Marreese Speights, who came out of nowhere to lead Golden State with 27 points, as the Warriors notched it's 8th straight win over the Charlotte Hornets 105-101. Charlotte has now lost 8 straight games, triggering off rumors that Steve Clifford could be on the "Hot Seat" if things don't turn around for a struggling Hornets team that is currently sitting in last place in the Southeast Division with a dismal 4-13 record, and currently in 13th in the Eastern Conference.
"He saved us again." said Warriors head coach Steve Kerr. "It's like the 4th time he saved us. He's just having a terrific season." Speights wasn't the only star who stole the show for the Warriors in their win last night, Charlotte native Stephen Curry did get into the act, finishing with 26 points on 9-of-20 shooting, while Klay Thompson added in 17 points. The Warriors finished off the night shooting 42.4% from the field, while their three-point percentage was dismal with 26.9%.
And for the slumping Hornets, Charlotte was led in scoring by Brian Roberts off the bench with 20 points. The Hornets hope to end this long losing skid tonight, as they visit Atlanta to take on the Hawks at Philips Arena for a 7:30 p.m. start.
105
97
The early-season struggles have been taking a toll for the Charlotte Hornets as their losing streak now sits at 7 games, thanks to Wednesday's 105-97 loss to the Portland Trail Blazers at Time Warner Cable Arena. The Hornets still find themselves in last place in the Southeast Division with a 4-12 mark, and are nearing the cellar in the Eastern Conference standings.
Entering the game on Wednesday, the Trail Blazers were looking for their 9th straight win, and they got in resounding fashion, thanks to Wesley Matthews, the big surprise in the game on Wednesday for the Blazers, as he would lead the way with 28 points in the win for Portland, which had 4 other players reach double figures, including Damian Lillard(22 points), Robin Lopez(15 points/10 rebounds), Chris Kaman(12 points), and Nicolas Batum(10 points), as the Blazers would finish the game with a 42.4% field goal percentage.
Charlotte was led in the loss by Brian Roberts, who had 24 points in the loss. It will be another tough challenge tonight for the Hornets, as they finish up their three-game homestand against Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson, and the Golden State Warriors tonight at Time Warner Cable Arena for a 7:00 p.m. start, before they make the trek down I-85 South to square off against the Atlanta Hawks tomorrow night at Philips Arena.
