Charlotte Hornets(10-22) vs. Houston Rockets(21-9)
Toyota Center, Houston
Wednesday, 7:00 p.m.
Television: SportSouth
Radio: WFNZ-AM(610 The Fan)
Series history(since original Hornets first season in 1988-89): HOU leads series 36-13 all-time
Tonight begins a tough stretch of games for the Charlotte Hornets, as they wrap up 2014 in Houston against the Rockets in a New Year's Eve match-up. Things turned for the worse yesterday for the Hornets, as center Al Jefferson will be out for the next 4 weeks due to a groin strain, and that could possibly signal the unofficial end of what was a promising season as we know it for the Hornets. Houston on the other hand has a pretty good record at home with a 10-6 mark, and a 21-9 record overall coming into tonight's game despite losing 2 straight games.
Scouting the Hornets
Last night, the Hornets would receive the devastating news that they didn't want to hear, as Al Jefferson will miss the next 4 weeks due to a groin strain. The team announced today that they have recalled Noah Vonleh from it's NBA D-League affiliate, the Fort Wayne Mad Ants and he could join the team tonight in Houston for the game against the Rockets. Charlotte has lost it's last three games, and are in desperate need of a win to wrap up 2014 on a high note, as they look to get it tonight in Houston against an always tough Rockets squad led by Dwight Howard and James Harden.
Scouting the Rockets
The Houston Rockets find themselves holding the 4th-best record in the Western Conference with a 21-9 record overall, and they've been extremely well at home this season with a 10-6 record overall. Recently, they have lost two straight games, but that didn't slow down the play of two of their star players in Dwight Howard and James Harden, with Harden leading the team with a 27.4 points per game average, while Howard leads the team with 11.8 rebounds per game. Can the two help end the Rockets short losing skid? That question will be answered tonight in this New Year's Eve game against the Charlotte Hornets at the Toyota Center.
Next 4 games for the Hornets(Home games in Purple, Road games in Teal)
Friday: Cleveland Cavaliers vs. Charlotte(7:00 p.m.)
Saturday: Charlotte @ Orlando Magic(7:00 p.m.)
Monday: Charlotte @ Boston Celtics(7:30 p.m.)
Next Wednesday: New Orleans Pelicans vs. Charlotte(7:00 p.m.)
*-Southeast Division game
NOTES: All SportSouth telecasts begin with "Hornets Live" 30 minutes before tip-off; All Hornets games can be heard locally on flagship station WFNZ-AM(610 The Fan) and throughout the Carolinas on the Hornets Radio Network.
104
94(OT)
One day after the Carolina Panthers clinched the NFC South title, many were hoping that the Charlotte Hornets would continue to give Charlotte something to cheer about in last night's match-up against the Milwaukee Bucks at Time Warner Cable Arena. After being down for almost the entire game, Charlotte would make a strong comeback, but in the end, Milwaukee had the last laugh, as they escaped out of Charlotte with a 104-94 win in overtime. With the loss, the Hornets are now 10-22 on the season.
What did the Hornets in was their field goal percentage, shooting a dismal 36.7% from the field, a main concern for a team that's missing Lance Stephenson still with a pelvic injury. That allowed the Bucks to jump out to a lead of 21 points, which also doomed the Hornets as well in the loss.
Milwaukee was led by Brandon Knight with 18 points on 8-of-19 shooting from the field, while the Hornets in the loss were led by Kemba Walker and his 28 points.
Charlotte will have 2 tough games that won't be no easy walk in the park, with the first of them starting tomorrow night on New Year's Eve in Houston against Dwight Howard, James Harden, and the Houston Rockets for a 7:00 p.m. start at the Toyota Center.
Milwaukee Bucks(15-16) vs. Charlotte Hornets(10-21)
Time Warner Cable Arena
Monday, 7:00 p.m.
Television: SportSouth
Radio: WFNZ-AM(610 The Fan)
Last 2 meetings: Charlotte 108, Milwaukee 101(December 23rd at Milwaukee); Charlotte 108, Milwaukee 106(2OT on October 29th at Charlotte)
Series history(since original Hornets first season in 1988-89): Series tied 48-48 all time
The Charlotte Hornets and Milwaukee Bucks will wrap up their 3-game season series tonight, this time around it will be on the Hornets home floor of Time Warner Cable Arena in Uptown Charlotte. The last time these two teams met was almost 7 days ago, when Charlotte traveled to Milwaukee and defeated the Bucks 108-101 behind Kemba Walker's 27 point performance.
Charlotte is coming off a rough performance on Saturday, as Orlando defeated Charlotte 102-94, despite Walker's 42 point performance, along with a Charlotte NBA basketball franchise(dating back to the original Charlotte Hornets first season in 1988-89) record 35 points in the second half, surpassing the previous mark of 28 set by former Hornets Kelly Tripucka and Glen Rice, while the Bucks meanwhile, are coming off a 90-85 loss to Atlanta back on Saturday at the BMO Harris Bradley Center.
Scouting the Bucks
The 15-16 Milwaukee Bucks are coming off a 5-point loss on Saturday to the Atlanta Hawks at the BMO Harris Bradley Center, despite Khris Middleton leading the way with 21 points in the loss. The last time Milwaukee and Charlotte met was last Tuesday, with the Hornets coming away with a 108-101 win to clinch the season series, and tonight, the Buck hope to avoid the season sweep by Charlotte, as they visit "The Queen City" for the third and final time this season.
Scouting the Hornets
Charlotte is coming off 2 rough outings after winning 4 straight, including a blowout loss at the hands of the Oklahoma City Thunder on the road back on Friday, and a defeat at the hands of the Orlando Magic on Saturday night at "The Hive", despite Kemba Walker's career-high 42-point performance, including 35 points in the second half, setting a Charlotte Hornets franchise record for points in a half, surpassing the previous mark of 28 in a half accomplished by former Hornets Kelly Tripucka in 1988 and Glen Rice, who did it twice in 1997 and again in 1998. The Hornets are looking to get back into the win column, and looking to sweep the season series against the Bucks tonight, as the Hornets welcome in the Milwaukee Bucks for the third and final time in the 2014-15 season.
Next 4 games for the Hornets(Home games in Purple, Road games in Teal)
Wednesday: Charlotte @ Houston Rockets(7:00 p.m.)
Friday: Cleveland Cavaliers vs. Charlotte(7:00 p.m.)
Saturday: Charlotte @ Orlando Magic*(7:00 p.m.)
Next Monday: Charlotte @ Boston Celtics(7:30 p.m.)
*-Southeast Division game
NOTES: All SportSouth telecasts begin with "Hornets Live" 30 minutes before tip-off; All Hornets games can be heard locally on flagship station WFNZ-AM(610 The Fan) and throughout the Carolinas on the Hornets Radio Network.
102
94
To sum up last night's performance by the Charlotte Hornets in their home game against the Orlando Magic, it would be a tale of a team that has decided to quit on themselves for most of the night, while the other would be a tale of a player going beastmode. It was that kind of night, as the Orlando Magic handed the Hornets their second straight loss witha 102-94 win over Charlotte.
Despite the loss, it would be a career/record setting night for Kemba Walker, as he would lead all game scorers with 42 points, including a record-setting 35 point performance in the second half, setting a Charlotte NBA record for most points in a half surpassing the 28 point point scoring totals in a half that were set by former Hornets Kelly Tripucka(28 vs. IND on 12/14/1988) and twice by Glen Rice(First vs. PHX on 2/19/1997 and again vs. MIA 1/2/1998).
Head Coach Steve Clifford wasn't pleased with his team's effort in the loss, which dropped Charlotte to 10-21, but he did praise Kemba for keeping his team in the game. "He can be a cornerstone player for teams that go deep into the playoffs because of his competitiveness. He has just a competitive spirit that is contagious to me." Clifford said.
"I had a career night, a great game but it just wasn't enough. Our problem wasn't offensively, it was defensively." Walker said. The defensive game doomed Charlotte big time, turning the ball over 10 times, and allowing Orlando to take advantage and opening the door for Nikola Vucevic to lead the way for the Magic with 22 points to go with 11 rebounds in last night's win.
Orlando also saw Tobias Harris join in with 21 points, while Victor Oladipo helped out the cause with 13 on the night for the Magic, who shot 45.8% from the field, despite being out-rebounded by the Hornets by a plus-1 margin(41-40). Walker did indeed led all game scorers with a season-high 42 point outburst, while Al Jefferson had 14 points for Charlotte in the loss.
Charlotte hopes to bounce back from two tough losses and to get back into the win column on Monday night at Time Warner Cable Arena, as they take on the Milwaukee Bucks at 7:10 p.m., before hitting the road to wrap up 2014 in Houston against the Rockets on Wednesday.
Orlando Magic(11-21; 2-5 in Southeast Division Play) vs. Charlotte Hornets(10-20; 2-3 in Southeast Division Play)
Time Warner Cable Arena
Saturday, 7:00 p.m.
Television: SportSouth
Radio: WFNZ-AM(610 The Fan)
Last meeting: Orlando 105, Charlotte 100(November 21st at Charlotte)
Series history(since 1989-90 season): ORL leads series 48-38 all-time
Two teams with tough losses last night will square off tonight at "The Hive", as the Charlotte Hornets come back home to face their Southeast Division rivals, the Orlando Magic. The Hornets are coming off another loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder 98-75 last night, as they remain winless against the Thunder in Oklahoma City, while the Magic is coming off a loss to LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers last night on their home floor of Orlando. The last time these two teams met was back on November 21st, when Orlando came back to defeat Charlotte 105-100, and the Hornets are looking for some redemption from that loss back on November 21st, this evening.
Scouting the Magic
Last night, the Orlando Magic squared off against their arch nemesis, LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers, as they suffered their fifth loss in it's last 6 games, by falling to the Cavs 98-89 at the Amway Center. Despite the loss, the Magic did see Tobias Harris lead the way, while Nikola Vucevic had another good outing for Orlando in the loss. The Magic hopes to bounce back from last night's loss in their game tonight on the road in Charlotte against the Hornets.
Scouting the Hornets
The Charlotte Hornets meanwhile, saw its 4-game win streak come to a end last night in one of the toughest places to win in the NBA, Oklahoma City, as the Kevin Durant-less Thunder, led by Russell Westbrook, handed Charlotte a 98-75 loss. Tonight, the Hornets are out for some payback after what the Magic did to them back in their first meeting on November 21st at Time Warner Cable Arena, when Orlando would battle all the way back to escape out of Charlotte with a 105-100 win, as the Hornets look to begin a new win streak tonight, when they face-off against the Magic at "The Hive", as the Hornets will face the Magic twice in 7 days, tonight at home and again next Saturday in Orlando.
Next 4 games for the Hornets(Home games in Purple, Road games in Teal)
Monday: Milwaukee Bucks vs. Charlotte(7:00 p.m.)
Wednesday: Charlotte @ Houston Rockets(7:00 p.m.)
Friday: Cleveland Cavaliers vs. Charlotte(7:00 p.m.)
Next Saturday: Charlotte @ Orlando Magic*(7:00 p.m.)
*-Southeast Division game
NOTES: All SportSouth telecasts begin with "Hornets Live" 30 minutes before tip-off; All Hornets games can be heard locally on flagship station WFNZ-AM(610 The Fan) and throughout the Carolinas on the Hornets Radio Network.
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.
Charlotte Hornets(10-19) vs. Oklahoma City Thunder(13-16)
Chesapeake Energy Arena, Oklahoma City
Friday, 8:00 p.m.
Television: SportSouth
Radio: WFNZ-AM(610 The Fan)
Series history(since original Hornets first season in 1988-89): SEA/OKC franchise leads series 32-15 all-time
After their 2-day Christmas break, the Charlotte Hornets will venture out to Oklahoma City in search of their 5th straight win against the always tough Oklahoma City Thunder. The Hornets are coming off a 108-101 win over the Bucks on Tuesday night in Milwaukee, while the Thunder is licking their wounds after dropping a 115-111 decision to the Portland Trail Blazers, and they'll be in action on Christmas Day tomorrow, when they square off against the defending NBA champion Spurs in San Antonio. The Charlotte franchise in the modern era(since 2004-05) hasn't won a game in Oklahoma City since the then-Seattle SuperSonics relocated to Oklahoma City back in the 2008-09 season, but the Hornets look to end the long streak on Friday night.
Scouting the Hornets
The Charlotte Hornets are enjoying their recent string of wins, 4 of them to be exact, as they defeated the Bucks last night in Milwaukee, while Kemba Walker has been carrying a good bulk of the load in those wins, along with Al Jefferson as well. Last night's game marked the fifth time that the Hornets franchise has scored 100 points in a game since April 8-16 of 2008, when the then-Bobcats accomplished that feat. The Charlotte franchise hasn't won a game in Oklahoma City in the modern era(2004-present), but the Hornets look to reverse that trend and finally earn themselves their first win in OKC on Friday night, as they take on the Thunder.
Scouting the Thunder
Last night was a crazy night for the Thunder on the home floor of Chesapeake Energy Arena in Oklahoma City, as they entertained the Portland Trail Blazers, and the end result of that game wasn't the way head coach Scott Brooks and his squad wanted to see, as Portland came away with a 115-111 win in overtime, despite Russell Westbrook dropping 40 points in the loss for the Thunder, who are still without one of their other star players, Kevin Durant. Oklahoma City will be in action on Christmas Day tomorrow, as they visit San Antonio to begin a back-to-back set against the defending champion Spurs, before they return home to OKC on Friday to face the Hornets.
Next 4 games for the Hornets(Home games in Purple, Road games in Teal)
Saturday: Orlando Magic vs. Charlotte*(7:00 p.m.)
Monday: Milwaukee Bucks vs. Charlotte(7:00 p.m.)
Next Wednesday: Charlotte @ Houston Rockets(7:00 p.m.)
Next Friday: Cleveland Cavaliers vs. Charlotte(7:00 p.m.)
*-Southeast Division game
NOTES: All SportSouth telecasts begin with "Hornets Live" 30 minutes before tip-off; All Hornets games can be heard locally on flagship station WFNZ-AM(610 The Fan) and throughout the Carolinas on the Hornets Radio Network.
