The first of back-to-back meetings between the Charlotte Hornets and Detroit Pistons gets going tonight as these two sides square off for the second time this season starting at 7 PM EST at Spectrum Center.
Charlotte is riding a five-game losing streak, during which the team has conceded 118.0 points per 100 possessions. Coming off a 17-point road loss to the Miami Heat in which the Hornets allowed 12 first-half three pointers, Head Coach James Borrego continues to stress urgency for more attention to detail, physicality and intensity on the defensive side of the floor.
“The message was our defense needs to improve,” he said afterwards. “Right now, we’re physically soft and we lack intensity on that side of the court. When teams make runs, we tend to hang our heads and that comes with time, accountability and execution. We just need to get better on that end of the court.”
Charlotte has won seven in a row against Detroit, the most recent coming just 12 days ago on a Malik Monk buzzer-beating three-pointer. Monk and Rozier both had 19 points in the 109-106 win with Devonte’ Graham tallying another 18 points and 10 assists for Charlotte. Langston Galloway poured in a career-high 32 points (7-of-11 from three) and Andre Drummond amassed 16 points and 20 rebounds for Detroit.
The Pistons have lost six of their last eight overall outings and eight straight on the road, although are coming off a 103-88 home win on Monday night vs. Orlando. Blake Griffin is averaging 19.0 PPG on just 42.3% shooting (24.0% from three), 5.2 RPG and 3.6 APG in five games this season as he continues to work his way back from offseason knee surgery.
Like Miami, Detroit is a fantastic three-point shooting team, currently sitting second in the NBA in percentage (39.0%) and 14th in makes per game (12.1). Keeping track of deep threats like Galloway, Luke Kennard, Markieff Morris and Svi Mykhailiuk will be imperative for the Hornets if they want any chance of snapping their ongoing skid.
Game Notes: G Reggie Jackson (lower back stress reaction) and G Khyri Thomas (right foot surgery) will not play for Detroit. G Tony Snell (left hip strain) has missed the team’s last four games… Cody Zeller (left hip contusion) and Malik Monk (left fifth finger sprain) are both probable to play.