By Sam Perley, hornets.com
Tune InThese games can be seen on FOX SportSouth and can be heard on WFNZ or the Official Charlotte Hornets app.
Key Matchup vs. Wizards: Charlotte’s Brian Roberts and Gerald Henderson vs. Washington’s John Wall and Bradley Beal
Even with leading-scorer Kemba Walker sidelined, Charlotte’s starting backcourt unit of Brian Roberts and Gerald Henderson was able to propel the Hornets to victory Monday against one of the NBA’s most highly-regarded guard combinations in Washington’s John Wall and Bradley Beal…Henderson and Roberts outscored their Wizards counterpart, 35-34, and connected on 15-of-29 field-goal attempts (51.7%) compared to 11-of-30 field-goal attempts (36.7%) by Wall and Beal… Both Roberts and Henderson have risen to the occasion this season filling in for injured starters, as the Hornets are 5-1 with Roberts starting at point guard and 15-8 with Henderson starting at shooting guard…. With a rematch looming Thursday night in Charlotte, the Hornets guards won’t be sleeping on the Wizards duo even after emerging victorious Monday in Washington… Wall entered Monday’s matchup hampered by an Achilles injury and migraines and subsequently struggled, connecting on just 4-of-14 field-goal attempts for 16 points while tallying 10 assists and four turnovers. Beal picked up the slack for Washington, also tallying a double-double with 18 points and a season-high 11 rebounds in the loss… Despite his recent ailments, Wall is arguably the best point guard in the Eastern Conference and has established himself as one of the premier facilitators and ball handlers in the NBA over the last two seasons. According to the NBA’s SportVU player tracking, Wall is second in the NBA in points created by assist per game (23.8) and fourth in touches (93.9) meaning the Wizards guard is as involved in the success of his team’s offense as any player in the league despite Monday’s result… With Marcin Gortat and Nene Hilario continuing to struggle down low for Washington, Roberts and Henderson should look for the Wizards to utilize the dynamic duo of Wall and Beal more than ever as they look to even the season series with Charlotte.
Scouting the Hornets (21-27)
Charlotte knocked off the Wizards, 92-88, on Feb. 2 in Washington to cap off a three-game road trip. Al Jefferson and Brian Roberts led the Hornets with 18 points apiece while Jefferson also pulled down 12 rebounds for his third double-double in the last five games. Michael Kidd-Gilchrist also recorded his career-high eighth double-double on the season finishing with 13 points and 13 rebounds for the visiting Hornets. Gerald Henderson (17) and Gary Neal (12) also finished in double figures for the Hornets who have now beaten the Wizards four straight times… Al Jefferson is averaging 14.3 points, 8.7 rebounds and 2.1 blocks in seven games since returning from a nine-game absence on Jan. 19. In the three games Jefferson started for Charlotte from Jan. 28-Feb. 2, the Hornets’ center averaged 16.3 points and 11.7 rebounds… Michael Kidd-Gilchrist averaged 11.4 points and 9.4 rebounds in the month of January both of which were increases from his December averages of 9.2 points and 5.7 rebounds. Kidd-Gilchrist also led the NBA in rebounding amongst small forwards for the month of January… Gerald Henderson is fourth in the Eastern Conference in free-throw percentage (86.9%) while Gary Neal is ranked ninth (86.3%)… Henderson has also scored in double figures in 16 of his last 23 games… Cody Zeller tied with Paul Millsap and Zach Randolph for fifth in the NBA in assists by power forwards for the month of January (2.8)… Brian Roberts is averaging 10.8 points, 4.5 assists and connecting on 36.1% of field-goal attempts in six games as Charlotte’s starting point guard. The Hornets are 5-1 without Kemba Walker this season… With Bismack Biyombo also sidelined, Jason Maxiell is averaging 7.3 points and 3.3 rebounds in Charlotte’s last three games (3.4 points and 2.7 rebounds overall on season)… Lance Stephenson is averaging 6.4 assists in the last seven games which included then season-highs of nine assists on Jan. 19 and Jan. 23 as well as a career-high 13 assists against Denver on Jan. 31… Charlotte went 10-4 in the month of January which was the second-best winning percentage in the Eastern Conference (.714) and fourth best overall in the NBA… The Hornets also led the NBA in points allowed (89.5), opponent field-goal percentage (39.6%) and defensive rating (92.4 points per 100 possessions) for the month of January… Charlotte is ranked fifth overall in the NBA in points allowed (96.9) and 10th in rebounding (44.1)… The Hornets signed guard Elliot Williams to a 10-day contract on Wednesday, Feb. 4.
Scouting the Wizards (31-18)
Washington dropped their third straight game falling to the Hornets, 92-88, at home on Feb. 2. Bradley Beal led the way for the Wizards with 18 rebounds and a season-high 11 rebounds for his first double-double since Jan. 2 and second overall on the season. John Wall also recorded a double-double with 16 points and a team-high 10 assists for the Wizards. Kris Humphries (13) and Paul Pierce (11) finished in double figures while Nene Hilario chipped in eight points and seven rebounds for Washington… The loss to Charlotte was only the second time this season Washington has been defeated at home when holding their opponent to under 100 points. The Wizards are now 16-2 at home and 25-2 overall when holding their opponent under the century mark… Washington’s entire starting lineup is averaging double-digit points: John Wall (17.4), Bradley Beal (15.2), Paul Pierce (12.8), Marcin Gortat (11.6) and Nene Hilario (11.1)… Wall is first in the NBA in assists (10.2), fifth in steals (1.98) and tied for sixth in the NBA with Kevin Love in double-doubles (27)… Gortat leads Washington in both rebounding (8.0) and blocks (1.35). Gortat is also 11th in the NBA in field-goal percentage (53.6%)… Beal and Rasual Butler are ranked sixth (44.6%) and seventh (43.5%), respectively in the NBA in three-point percentage… Butler is averaging 8.7 points and 2.7 rebounds this season, his highest marks since 2009-2010 when he played for the Los Angeles Clippers… Kris Humphries is averaging 12.6 points and 11.8 rebounds over his last five games. Humphries also recorded all three of his double-doubles on the season during this stretch… Washington is ranked 11th in NBA in rebounding (43.8), fifth in assists (24.4) and ninth in points allowed (98.0)… The Wizards are also third in the NBA in offensive rebounds surrendered (9.4), a category which Charlotte currently leads the NBA (8.5)… The Wizards have had eight different players score 20-or-more points this season and 10 different players lead the team in scoring… Washington is 8-4 in the second game of back-to-backs on the season and will play the Atlanta Hawks on Feb. 4 prior to their Feb. 5 matchup with Charlotte… Washington’s 31 wins prior to Feb. 1 are the most wins by the franchise before this date since the 1978-79 NBA season when they had 34. Washington would eventually go on to lose in the NBA Finals to the Seattle SuperSonics that season… Rasual Butler was teammates with Lance Stephenson in Indiana during the 2013-2014 season.