Charlotte Hornets: Kemba and Nic Combine for 45 Points in Third Consecutive Loss

The Charlotte Hornets dropped their third consecutive game even though Kemba Walker and Nicolas Batum combined for 45 points against the 76ers.

The Charlotte Hornets ended up losing for the third consecutive time as they fell to the Philadelphia 76ers. Charlotte had plenty of chances to win this game but in the end, they could not finish and come out with a victory. Time is beginning to wear thin and the team needs to wake up as they sit in tenth place in the Eastern Conference.

Our player of the game is Kemba Walker. The all-star point guard started off slow but throughout the game, his play improved as he led the Hornets’ comeback attempt. Walker made some amazing plays in the game that really put Charlotte in a position to win. Despite Nicolas Batum adding 16 points, the Sixers were still able to hold onto their lead in the closing minutes.

Kemba Walker (A+)

29 PTS 3 AST 7 REBS

Kemba started off a little slow in this game but the captain came alive and truly gave his team a chance at winning. Kemba needs to continue playing with this intensity because when he plays like this, the Hornets generally win the game. Walker must keep playing at his all-star level in order to make the postseason. He left it all on the court as usual.

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Nicolas Batum (A)

16  PTS 4 AST 1 REBS

Batum got the offense going early and put the team in a good spot in the first half. Nic looked sharp from beyond the arc and made some great plays in the game. He needs to avoid committing costly turnovers in key situations. It is very questionable why Batum did not take the three in the final minutes of the game. It is good that the Hornets are an unselfish team but sometimes superstars need to make plays in the defining moments of a game.

Frank Kaminsky (B)

12 PTS 2 AST 11 REBS

In this game, Frank shot very poorly in the beginning. He missed his first eight shots. Towards the end of the game, Kaminsky came alive and started making key shots to give the Hornets a chance. The big man got the start with Cody Zeller out and did end the game with good defense with three blocks and one steal.

Michael Kidd-Gilchrist (B-)

6 PTS 2 AST 7 REBS

MKG made a steady impact in this game. He got a few buckets and provided some decent defense all night. Kidd-Gilchrist looked really good on the play where he ran down the court and laid the ball up in transition. When MKG has is offensive game on point, generally, the Hornets are doing good in the game. It’s just far too often that his impact is not great enough for a player playing over 30 minutes a game.

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Marvin Williams (C)

4 PTS 2 AST 0 REBS

Marvin did not look like himself in this game. We are accustomed to seeing Williams knock down a few triples but not in this one. Marvin was good on the defensive side of the ball but he lacked an offensive game. If he’s not offering long range shooting (0-5 from three) then there isn’t a need for him on the court.

Miles Plumlee (C)

4 PTS 0 AST 3 REBS

Plumlee looks to be improving each game with the Hornets. He looks as if he is getting acquainted with the system and is steadily making more of an impact. He made a couple of buckets in the loss to the Sixers but also started to play some good defense. Unfortunately, he suffered a calf strain in the third quarter.

Marco Belinelli (A)

9 PTS 4 AST 4 REBS

In the game against Philly, Marco’s playmaking ability and leadership off the bench was on full display. He made some great passes but at the same time, missed some key shots that could have led to a Hornets’ victory. Despite those crucial misses, Belinelli continues to be a spark off the bench.

Brian Roberts (B)

8 PTS 2 AST 0 REBS

Brian really stepped up in this matchup. He knocked down two triples and also made a pair of free throws. Brian needs to continue this style of play as he fills in for Ramon Sessions as the backup point guard. The only problem was that he only saw 10 minutes of game action.

Jeremy Lamb (B)

12 PTS 0 AST 0 REBS

Lamb had a huge impact in the game against the Sixers. He made some key shots in the game to keep the Hornets close but outside of scoring, he didn’t do much else. In 15 minutes, he failed to record a rebound or an assist. Jeremy needs to make his impact felt in more ways than just scoring. He still played well off the bench for Charlotte.

Next: The Trade Deadline Will Define the Hornets' Season

After this loss to the 76ers, the Charlotte Hornets will travel up to Canada on Wednesday to face the Toronto Raptors. The Hornets will have to bring their A-game as this is their final outing before the All-Star break. This game could really change momentum for the Hornets if they can come out with a win.