The shorthanded Charlotte Hornets escaped with a 110-107 win over the Atlanta Hawks on Wednesday, and with the dub, they have won their regular-season series against their division rival. If the teams end up with the same record at the conclusion of the regular season, the Hornets will gain the higher seeding based on tiebreaker rules.
It was quite a rousing win for Buzz City after entering the game knowing that it would be without Miles Bridges and Moussa Diabate for four games (three more after the Hawks tiff). Some fans weren’t thrilled with how the league timed the announcement, as it came on the same day that the Hornets would face Atlanta at home. However, the organization likely knew that a suspension for at least one contest was on the way, as it called up Tidjane Salaun and PJ Hall, who played up to, or even exceed, expectations, from the G League.
Hornets nearly endured a costly loss
For three-and-a-half quarters on Wednesday, it had looked like the Hornets were going to coast to an easy victory despite missing two of their starters and fielding a lineup at the opening buzzer that had mightily struggled in the six minutes they had been on the floor together.
At the start of the fourth quarter, the Hornets held an 89-75 lead, and the scoreboard showed 108-97 at the 3:30 mark. However, Atlanta scored the next 10 points and gave itself a chance to steal the victory. Fortunately, Kon Knueppel sank his clutch free throws, and Brandon Miller’s stifling defense, for which he was credited a block, on Onyeka Okongwu’s 3-point attempt iced the win for the home squad.
While some fans would probably have preferred the win to be more comfortable, Charlotte could also end up benefiting from such an emotional victory, especially since it still has to wait for around two more weeks before Bridges and Diabate wear the purple and teal jersey again. The suspension will last for just three more games, but the team’s next matchup won’t take place until next Thursday because of the All-Star break.
With the win, the Hornets now hold the No. 9 seed and are 0.5 games ahead of, you guessed it, the Hawks. A higher placement is also within reach, as they are just two games behind the eighth-seeded Miami Heat and 4.5 games behind the Philadelphia 76ers for sixth place in the Eastern Conference.
It remains to be seen how the standings will turn out in April. But at least the Hornets can thank themselves for outlasting the Hawks two months earlier if they finish the regular season tied.