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Top Performers from the Charlotte Hornets 122-113 Win over the Heat

By Bryce Fields

CHARLOTTE, NC - OCTOBER 2: Tony Parker #9 of the Charlotte Hornets stands for the National Anthem before a pre-season game against the Miami Heat on October 2, 2018 at Spectrum Center in Charlotte, North Carolina. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Kent Smith/NBAE via Getty Images)
CHARLOTTE, NC - OCTOBER 2: Tony Parker #9 of the Charlotte Hornets stands for the National Anthem before a pre-season game against the Miami Heat on October 2, 2018 at Spectrum Center in Charlotte, North Carolina. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Kent Smith/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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While it is still just the preseason, the sweet taste of victory is always great. Your Charlotte Hornets got a win over division rival Miami Heat, 122-133. Check out how that happened and who carried Buzz City to the W.

Don’t overreact to a preseason win, you say? Well usually I would agree, but since it’s all we got right now, we are going with it: the Charlotte Hornets won in a shoot-out with the Heat last night, 122-113. The high scoring can mostly likely be chalked up to preseason defensive effort, but we would like to think otherwise. Here are the Hornets players who stepped up and led Charlotte to the win, and if we can expect similar results this season:

Top Performer #1: Kemba Walker

  • 18 points, 6 rebounds, 5 assists, & 2 steals in the win 

While we haven’t been all over his case for lackluster start to his preseason, we will absolutely hype up his first good game. Kemba Walker was a star in the win over Miami last night, and got it done in all areas of the game. Walker tied with Heat forward Kelly Olynk for high-scorers at 18 points on the night. He also added 6 rebounds, 5 assists, and 2 steals, proving he was doing a bit of everything in the win.

Of all the Hornets’ players, none have higher expectations than Walker. Coming off an All-Star season, Charlotte will go as high as Walker can take them in the Eastern Conference. While they are far from a title contender, if Walker plays like he did last year and has a solid supporting cast, the Hornets can definitely make some noise in the playoffs.

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Top Performer(s) #2: The Bridges, Hernangomez, Parker-trio off the Bench

  • Bridges: 14 points, 6 rebounds
  • Hernangomez: 16 points, 10 rebounds, 4 blocks 
  • Parker: 8 points, 7 assists

I tried to narrow down to only 1-2 of these guys to the top performers list of the night, I found it hard to. Rookie Miles Bridges had another solid performance off the bench, scoring 14 points and grabbing 6 rebounds, and going 2-3 from behind the 3-point line. Willy Hernangomez‘s performance was even better, getting the 16 point-10 rebound double-double, and adding 4 blocks in only 17 minutes of action (not to mention he hit a 3-pointer as well). While normally I would’ve gave those two the nod, it was hard to not acknowledge Tony Parker as well. In only 13 minutes played, Parker scored 8 points, racked up 7 assists, and the Hornets were +18 while he was on the floor.

While all three played well in their own right, I believe this trio off the bench will be huge for the Hornets this year. Bridges is the electric rookie who can get a bucket for himself, while Hernangomez can be a solid double-double, rim protecting big they need. To tie it all together, Parker’s leadership and consistency at point guard is the glue of the Charlotte second-unit. If the Hornets can get bench play like this all season, expect them to be much better than people could’ve ever predicted.

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