The Charlotte Hornets are undefeated in their last three contests. A team, whose playoff hopes dissipated before the calendar turned, is still fighting against teams fighting for a playoff spot. They bested the Dallas Mavericks twice and beat the Oklahoma City Thunder, both of whom currently stands at 37-39 on the year and are 11th and 10th in the Western Conference standings. Every game for them has playoff/play-in implications.
Over the past three games, the Charlotte Hornets are ninth in defensive rating and 14th in offensive rating in the league. For reference, for the year, the Hornets are 30th and 20th respectively. The uptick, even with the multiple injuries sustained, shows that the Hornets are finding their stride.
It’s understandable if winning games after the possibility of a postseason was taken off the table isn’t headline news. But it’s important not to label them as meaningless. For one, the teams the Hornets are playing against are putting out their best lineups to win. Second, these are important minutes for the younger players. 10 of the players on the roster have three or fewer years of NBA experience. The current three-game winning streak is the second-longest of the season for the Hornets.
March 24, 2023: Charlotte Hornets @ Dallas Mavericks
The Hornets jumped out to an immediate lead in the first quarter. They dropped 37 points and did it as a well-rounded team. Of the 14 field goals made in the quarter, 11 of them were assisted. And five different players scored at least six points in the first period. The Hornets kept the foot on the gas and got the lead to as much as 18 in the second quarter before the Mavs pulled the game closer right before halftime.
The Hornets trailed only once in this game, on Luka Dončić’s opening midrange jumper. That isn’t to say the game was easy for the visitors, after having a double-digit lead for a large part of the contest, the Mavs cut the lead to a single point on a Jayden Hardy layup with just over eight minutes remaining in the game.
After Hardy brought the score to 97-96, the Hornets went on a 10-0 run that would essentially put the game away, despite the Mavs making a valiant effort as the game closed. Gordon Hayward and PJ Washington packed most of the scoring punch, combining for 53 points, and Hayward dished out his season-high nine assists.
But it wasn’t just the usual suspects with the contributions. Mark Williams, playing for the first time in several games following his thumb injury, came off the bench and scored 13 points and grabbed eight rebounds in 21 minutes of play. His replacement, starting center Nick Richards, had a double-double with 10 points and 11 assists. Every starter scored in double figures, including Dennis Smith Jr. (13)—who hit a huge three late to help seal the win against the team that drafted him.