The Charlotte Hornets had misplaced three straight video games earlier than their assembly with Philadelphia, together with towards the lowly Washington Wizards on Thursday night time. To make issues worse, LaMelo Ball and Mark Williams had been unable to decorate Friday because of accidents.
A well-rested 76ers staff, which hadn’t performed since its final win over the Hornets on Monday, opened the sport early. Every part was falling for the hosts behind the arc, as Tyrese Maxey led the cost with 15 factors within the first quarter. Lacking most of their ordinary ball handlers, the Hornets regarded disoriented on the offensive finish.
After trailing by 20 early within the second quarter, Charlotte’s bench confirmed some combating spirit and clawed its approach again into the sport. The Hornets’ protection performed a serious position because the 76ers misplaced rhythm, turned the ball over and allowed simple break factors. Trailing 46-58 at halftime, Charles Lee’s staff appeared to nonetheless have a bit of life.
This was not the case in the beginning of the third. Charlotte’s starters allowed the deficit to develop to a game-high 23, failing to carry on on each ends of the ground. As soon as once more, the bench unit managed to cease the bleeding, this time with the assistance of a much-improved Vasilije Micic.
The stage was set for a late surge from the Hornets and so they delivered. With seven and a half minutes remaining within the recreation, Miles Bridges had a wide-open look from deep that might have introduced his staff inside three. The try was unsuccessful and Philadelphia secured the victory because of a powerful fourth quarter efficiency from Joel Embiid who scored twelve factors.
Charles Lee continues to get productive minutes from sudden sources. Tidjane Salaün, DaQuan Jeffries, Isiah Wong and Moussa Diabaté all performed essential roles in tonight’s rotation. Twice the beginning lineup dug itself right into a gap, and every time the Hornets bench had a prepared reply.
It’s no coincidence that these are the one 4 gamers to have completed the assembly with a constructive plus-minus. The constant excessive vitality not solely compelled many Philadelphia turnovers, but in addition made the offense noticeably smoother.
Within the absence of LaMelo Ball and Brandon Miller, Bridges must step up. Nobody can count on his two operating mates to routinely produce the identical sort of outcomes, however the staff wants him to attain constantly sufficient to win some of these video games.
He was capable of present a little bit of punch within the last quarter, however in any other case it was a disappointing efficiency. Via the primary three durations, Bridges did not rating a single basket and had as many factors (three) as turnovers. When he lastly asserted himself extra within the last minutes, he settled for three-pointers too typically, connecting on solely one in every of his 5 makes an attempt.
Since his troublesome begin to the season, the previous EuroLeague MVP has slowly however absolutely improved his recreation. This was not as evident within the first half, the place he performed an necessary position within the staff’s collective wrestle departure. Micic introduced his A-game within the second half, nevertheless, scoring 17 factors en path to a game-high 20 performs.
Throw it Nick 💪 @SharonviewFCU // #Memorable moments pic.twitter.com/7AUn1tAia9
– Hornets on FanDuel Sports activities Community (@FDSN_Hornets) December 21, 2024
The Hornets will play their subsequent recreation on Monday, when Houston involves city. Tip-off for the second season matchup between the 2 groups will happen at 7 p.m. EST.
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