Charlotte Hornets continue to struggle in close games
The Charlotte Hornets have been historically bad in close games over the past couple years and it doesn’t look like their luck will change anytime soon.
Justin Garcia, who is the host for the Milwaukee Bucks radio network, pointed out that the Charlotte Hornets have lost 13 straight games decided by three points or less. That happens to be the longest such streak in NBA history. This is a streak that dates back to the 2016-17 season and has carried into this year.
During last season, Charlotte was 0-9 in games in games decided by three or fewer points. They had losses to the Toronto Raptors, the New York Knicks, the Washington Wizards, the Brooklyn Nets, the Detroit Pistons, back to back close defeats to NY and the Sacramento Kings and two overtime losses to the Los Angeles Clippers and the New Orleans Pelicans.
So far this season, the Hornets are 0-4 with losses to the Boston Celtics, the Chicago Bulls, the Cleveland Cavaliers and the Portland Trail Blazers. Three of the four defeats came on the road with the loss to the Blazers coming at home.
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The team’s last victory in a game that was decided by three points or less was during the 2015-16 season on March 21st, 2016. Jeremy Lin scored 29 points and led Charlotte to a 23-point comeback win over the San Antonio Spurs at home. It’s been nearly two full calendar years since that win.
For whatever reason, the Hornets just haven’t been able to close out games in the last two seasons. Even with Cardiac Kemba Walker on the court, Charlotte’s poor run in tight affairs continues.
Looking at the NBA’s clutch stats, the Hornets are 6-14 this season in games in which they are ahead of behind by five points in the final five minutes which is one of the worst records in the league. Their struggle this year is due in large part to their league-worst 30.1% field goal percentage in such games.
Last season wasn’t much better as Charlotte went 22-29 in these outings despite shooting 44.5% from the field which was eighth-best in the NBA.
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Luckily for the Hornets, they have plenty of time to end this poor run of results in close games this season. The question is, when will it finally end? Considering how long this has gone on for, it has to dwell on some of the players’ and coaches’ minds down the stretch of close games. If Charlotte wants to get back into the playoffs, they will need to win close games so hopefully, this stretch of bad luck will end soon.