Charlotte Hornets: Game preview and things to watch against Atlanta Hawks

After losing three straight, the Charlotte Hornets are seeking a big win over their division rivals, the Atlanta Hawks.

The Charlotte Hornets are on a three-game losing streak, and the team is looking to turn everything about against the Atlanta Hawks. The Hornets’ recent two losses come against the Philadelphia 76ers, who beat the Hornets by 10 or more in each game.

The Horners started the season by beating two tough teams after falling 0-2. Since then, Charlotte has not looked like the same team. The Hornets will need Wednesday night’s game to be a restart.

In the Hornets’ last matchup against the Hawks, Charlotte lost in double overtime. This was an exciting game, and fans even saw Terry Rozier go out and have the best game of his career.

The Hawks are currently 4-3 and are coming off a loss to the New York Knicks. The Hornets have a chance, but they will need to be operating on all cylinders in this one.

Charlotte Hornets vs. Atlanta Hawks
7:30 p.m. EST, Wednesday, January 6th, 2021
State Farm Arena
Fox Sports Southeast

Stream: Fubo.tv

Injury Report:

CHA:

Cody Zeller – Hand (Out)

ATL:

Onyeka Okongwu – Toe (Out)

Tony Snell – Foot (Out)

Rajon Rondo – Knee (Out)

Bogdan Bogdanovic – Ankle (Questionable)

Things to watch for:

After the Hornets’ loss on Monday night, Coach James Borrego did not say much about changing the rotation. However, Coach Borrego claimed that there would be a slight rotation change, but it would not impact the starting lineup.

Furthermore, fans can possibly expect Malik Monk to play in his second straight game. Before Monday night’s game, Monk had not seen any NBA minutes since last season. He did not play in the team’s first six games this season.

Fans will also need to keep an eye on the Hornets’ backcourt. Rozier had a career game last time he played Atlanta, and Graham is coming off his best game of the season. The Hornets will need a strong showing from their guards.

Keys to the game:

The Hornets need to take care of the ball in this one. Charlotte has been doing better as of late, not committing many turnovers, but this young Hawks team can do some damage when they get easy buckets in transition.

Controlling the glass will also play a major factor in this game. The Hornets are currently the 17th ranked team in rebounding, while the Hawks are 8th. Limiting Clint Capela in the paint would go a long way for Charlotte.

Finally, the Hornets need to contain Trae Young on offense. Young has been a problem for many teams so far this season, and the Hornets should not be looking at being on his highlight reel. If the Hornets can control the glass and limit his scoring, then they should have a good game.