The Charlotte Hornets fell to the Sacramento Kings Friday night 140-110. The Kings controlled the game from the start, scoring 41 first-quarter points.
LaMelo Ball and Gordan Hayward had solid games. Ball recorded a double-double with 24 points and 13 assists, while Hayward led the team with 25 points.
The Hornets trailed by double digits almost the whole game. The team attempted to make a run, closing the gap to 12 to start the fourth, but failed to get stops on the other end.
Charlotte Hornets takeaway 1: The Hornets were bad defensively
You cannot allow your opponent to score 140 points and expect to win a basketball game.
Charlotte couldn’t stop the Kings from scoring at all during the game. Sacramento was getting whatever it wanted inside the paint and outside the three-point line.
The Kings shot 55% for the game and went 22-44 from three. Buddy Hield torched the Hornets’ defense, scoring 26 off the bench.
Richaun Holmes showed the Hornets why not signing him was a mistake. He dominated whoever he was matched up with. He finished with 23 points and 20 rebounds.
Charlotte Hornets takeaways: Terry Rozier continues to struggle
Terry Rozier has been bad this season.
In the four games he has played, Rozier is averaging 12 points with a 33% field goal percentage. From three he’s been even worse shooting 31%.
Against Sacramento, he had plenty of open looks, he just missed. Rozier shot 3-14 from the field and 1-7 from three.
To say Rozier hasn’t been himself is an understatement. There is still plenty of time for him to bounce back this season, but the Hornets need it to happen sooner rather than later.
Charlotte Hornets takeaways: The center position has been a big problem
The Hornets center position is once again holding this team back.
Mason Plumlee and Nick Richards got exposed inside on defense and the glass. They combined for 8 rebounds. Meanwhile, the Kings as a team grabbed 56, double the Hornets team total.
Plumlee played his worst game of the season tonight. He had 5 points and 6 rebounds in 22 minutes. He continued to miss free throws and fouled out early in the fourth.
Charlotte desperately needs PJ Washington available just for his interior defense alone. He may not be a perfect solution to Plumlee’s shortcomings, but he is a viable option, especially when Plumlee struggles.
The issues at center will need to be addressed eventually, but how far will it drag you down before a move is made.
What’s next for the Charlotte Hornets?
The Hornets have now lost three games in a row, falling to 5-5 on the year.
They will look to get back in the win column when they play back-to-back games in Los Angeles against the Lakers and Clippers Sunday and Monday. Maybe the Hornets can find some success out in Hollywood.