The Charlotte Hornets' most recent loss turned out according to the script. After going down huge before the fourth quarter to the Philadelphia 76ers, Charlotte rallied to nearly steal the win. It fell short, losing by two possessions or fewer for the seventh time in its last eight games.
Several players played well, including Brandon Miller, who put up 34 points while committing zero turnovers despite displaying his still-underdeveloped handles anew. He sank four 3-pointers in the final period to keep his squad alive.
Nick Richards returned to form after just his second appearance after a lengthy layoff. He had a double-double by halftime and finished with 22 points and 14 rebounds. It's also worth noting that the 19-year-old Tidjane Salaun registered the first double-double of his career.
KJ Simpson auditioned for a larger role
Another newsworthy performance for the Hornets on Tuesday came from another rookie, KJ Simpson. The young point guard took over playmaking duties for the team amid the absence of LaMelo Ball and Tre Mann.
Vasilije Micic was supposed to assume those responsibilities. And, in fact, he performed decently in the previous two contests, dishing out a season-high eight assists against the New York Knicks before breaching the 10-point mark for the first time in the 2024-25 campaign with 15 points versus the Atlanta Hawks. However, the Serb point guard regressed to his usual self in Charlotte's NBA Cup finale.
Fortunately, Hornets coach Charles Lee opted to go against his instinct of not riding the hot hand in the fourth quarter by benching Micic in the final stanza until the 9.0-second mark with the Hornets down by two possessions. Instead, Simpson played almost the entire fourth period.
The University of Colorado Boulder product responded to Lee's trust by recording eight points, six rebounds, and nine assists. In contrast, Micic had just two dimes while committing five turnovers.
Perhaps it's time for the coaching staff to give Simpson a larger (read: starting) role, especially since he has already shown an incredible knack for finding the open man and attacking the basket. His point-of-attack defense also deserves praise. Don't get it wrong; the second-round pick still has a lot to work on. However, his potential is worth monitoring.
What should the organization do with Micic then? The Hornets need additional bodies at the point guard position while Ball and Mann are still sidelined. So, he could still serve as a reserve until they are at full strength. But it looks like the 30-year-old floor general may have worn out his welcome in Charlotte.