The Charlotte Hornets entered Wednesday’s match-up with the Brooklyn Nets ready to play, and it showed.
The first quarter gave the Hornets a 35-15 lead. The dominance didn’t stop there. While the second quarter was kind to Brooklyn, it wasn’t kind enough, as the Hornets outscored the Nets 59-47 in the second half.
Marvin Williams got the call at power forward tonight for Charlotte because of match-ups; Brooklyn started Joe Johnson at the four, and Alan Anderson at the three. Because of the four-guard lineup that Lionel Hollins has been using of late, Hornets coach Steve Clifford felt it necessary to fill the spot with more versatility. It paid off. Williams had 18 points on the night and was on fire from beyond the three-point line in the first half, as he drained four triples. Al Jefferson had another nice game for the Hornets, finishing with 19 points and six rebounds. Mo Williams continues to be just what the doctor ordered for Charlotte, as he finished with 14 points and 14 assists. Being removed from the starting lineup didn’t seem to hurt Cody Zeller’s performance either, as he finished with 13 points. Michael Kidd-Gilchrist’s growth this season has been apparent, and tonight was no exception as he had 10 points and 13 rebounds.
Both teams came in knowing it was a big game with major playoff implications, but the Hornets seemed to simply want it more. Lionel Hollins seemed to wave the white flag rather early, as he put the bottom of his lineup in mid-way through the third quarter.
Troy Daniels saw his first action as a Hornet, he also scored his first points in a Charlotte uniform on a three-point shot in the fourth quarter.
With possession of the eighth and final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference, the Hornets will try to further their case for the playoffs on Friday when they host the Toronto Raptors at 7:00 PM EST. Toronto has been sliding of late, and the Hornets will look to take advantage of a team trying to find their way. Look for the ball to move through Al Jefferson for Charlotte, and Kyle Lowry for Toronto. Charlotte has had the Raptors’ number over the last two seasons, as they try to extend their dominance over Toronto and stay afloat in the tight Eastern Conference playoff race.
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