Kaminsky, Charlotte Hornets End Losing Streak With Defensive Win Over the Kings
The Frank Kaminsky led Charlotte Hornets snapped their losing streak despite All-Star Kemba Walker having an off game against Sacramento.
After a long five-game losing streak, the Charlotte Hornets were able to pull away with a road win over the Sacramento Kings. Frank Kaminsky led the way but a strong defensive outing was the real catalyst. They need to continue playing with this style of defense if they want to reach the playoffs.
Our Player of the Game is Frank Kaminsky. Kaminsky was on fire as he knocked down a career-high five three-point field goals. Not only was he scoring well but he was also a beast on the boards as Frank ended up with 13 rebounds and a double-double. The Hornets will need him to continue this aggressive play going forward.
Kemba Walker (B)
12 PTS 6 AST 3 REBS
This was not the typical Kemba Walker type game. He struggled to score the ball but despite that, he was still effective. As the Hornets’ leader, him being on the court helps the team. Walker made a few careless mistakes on offense but all in all, he had a decent outing.
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Nicolas Batum (B+)
15 PTS 3 AST 6 REBS
Nic was more of a playmaker in this one as he made a big impact in the game. Batum did it on both sides of the ball but his scoring was a big boost because of Kemba’s struggles. If Nicolas can get back to his playmaking self, the Hornets will be a team to be reckoned with.
Frank Kaminsky (A+)
23 PTS 3 AST 13 REBS
What is there to say about Big Frank? As of late, Kaminsky has been putting up big numbers and that didn’t change in this one as he led the Hornets in scoring. While he continues to step up with Cody Zeller out, Frank has proven to be a valuable center for Charlotte. Kaminsky shot very well, while also knocking down a career-high five triples.
6 PTS 3 AST 12 REBS
MKG might not stand out in the scoring column but he surely is a game changer on both sides of the court. Watching Kidd-Gilchrist, it’s hard to miss his aggressive play on the defensive side of the ball. To add with that, he had a great night rebounding. Once he becomes more of an offensive threat and adds more offensive to his game, Michael will be a complete player.
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Marvin Williams (B+)
16 PTS 0 AST 6 REBS
It has been awhile since we have seen Marvin knock down three’s with consistency. Against the Kings, he was able to knock down three of them. When Williams is having a good game, the Hornets are generally playing pretty well. Marvin’s numbers are a good barometer for the team’s success.
Marco Belinelli (B+)
13 PTS 6 AST 2 REBS
After a poor performance against the Pistons, Marco came back and was the leader of the bench. He knocked down a couple of three’s and made his impact felt on the defensive side of the court. With the bench playing as poor as it has recently, this game seemed like a redemption match for the second unit.
Brian Roberts (C+)
2 PTS 4 AST 0 REBS
When Kemba goes out, we always need someone to man the fort and run the team. While Brian might not be a scoring machine, he is able to handle the game and set up his teammates for some open shots. With no turnovers and four assists, he did just that in this one.
Jeremy Lamb (B-)
7 PTS 1 AST 4 REBS
Coming off the bench is not easy but Lamb surely makes it look that way. The box score may not always show it but Jeremy has a big impact off of the bench. We would like to see him grabbing double-digit rebounds again but at least the scoring is there on most nights.
Christian Wood (C+)
5 PTS 0 AST 4 REBS
Coming off the bench, Wood played really well. These were his first notable minutes of the season that didn’t come at the end of a blowout game. This may be a sign of more things to come from him.
Next: Hornets Sign Johnny O'Bryant III to 10-Day Deal
The Hornets were able to end a five-game losing streak while also winning their first road game since the end of December. Charlotte will need their defensive efforts to continue as they take on the Los Angeles Clippers.