Hornets

In a win-or-go-home setting like the NBA Play-In Tournament, teams have to be at their best or risk their season ending in the blink of an eye. The Charlotte Hornets learned all about this following last year’s painful finish and unfortunately, history repeated itself on Wednesday night, which concluded with a 132-103 elimination road loss to the Atlanta Hawks.

LaMelo Ball finished with a team-high 26 points and eight assists, but shot an inefficient 7-of-25 from the field in the defeat. Fellow backcourter Terry Rozier added another 21 points, although he also went just 8-of-22 on his shot attempts and committed five turnovers.

Despite a mistaken-heavy first half, the Hornets entered the break trailing by just eight. Atlanta really turned things up in the third quarter though, outscoring Charlotte 42-24 to take a 102-76 lead into the fourth. The Hawks got 30 total points from De’Andre Hunter and Trae Young, shot 67% and had zero turnovers in the frame, setting themselves up for cruise control.

“I thought our first quarter was pretty telling – just too many turnovers,” said Hornets Head Coach James Borrego afterwards. “I think our offense didn’t help. We had some good looks, but didn’t knock them down. Just a little too erratic there in the first quarter, which allowed them to get out and get some easy ones in transition. [Atlanta] did a good job of moving the ball and made shots. Unfortunately, they found some open stuff and our guys were scrambling. We adjusted some of our stuff, but it’s tough… especially when they get going.”

“Whenever you lose and your season is over with, it’s never a great feeling,” said Rozier. “We’re not happy, but at the same time, we can’t do anything about it. We had a great season and a lot of great memories, but that’s all we can hold onto now. It hasn’t hit me yet. I probably need another hour.”

PJ Washington was a bright spot for Charlotte, finishing with 17 points on 7-of-10 shooting and six rebounds. Overall though, the Hornets shot just 38% - 32% from 3-point range – turned the ball over 14 times for 22 Atlanta points and got outrebounded, 54-41.

Young (24 points on 8-of-24 shooting; 1-of-7 from 3-point) and Hunter (22) each had 20-point performances for the Hawks, with the former also dishing out a game-high 11 assists. Clint Capela produced a monstrous 15-point, 17-rebound double-double and Danilo Gallinari added another 18 points.

Last season’s 27-point Play-In Game loss to Indiana was a consistent motivational source throughout the Hornets’ season and sadly, a similar result transpired in this one. Surely a bitter pill to swallow for the second consecutive year, the discouraging ending shouldn’t take away from the progress the team has made in what’s been an overall productive campaign.

Added Borrego, “I’ll need some time to digest this. We’ll move forward, figure out what we can learn from this and then get back to work. It’s just about working now to take the next step. Two years ago, we won 23 games. Last year, we won 33 and this year we won 43. The goal is to not be in this position next year. I’m proud of how we dug in all year. Now, the goal is to use this summer to get better. Unfortunately, this game didn’t go our way, but we’ll use it as a way to get better.”

The Hawks will now head to Cleveland to face the Cavaliers for the Eastern Conference’s eighth and final playoff spot on Friday, April 15 beginning at 7:30 PM ET on ESPN.

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Hawks Take Control in 2nd Half to Eliminate Hornets

More Coverage: Game Gallery | James Borrego Postgame  | Ball Postgame | Rozier Postgame

With the final seedings for this week’s NBA Play-In Tournament ultimately out of their hands, the Charlotte Hornets controlled what they could control on Sunday afternoon by notching a 124-108 victory over the Washington Wizards at Spectrum Center.

Terry Rozier led the hosts with a game-high 25 points – 17 coming in the fourth – and drained 5-of-9 3-point attempts, marking his first 25-point game since March 25. LaMelo Ball nearly triple-doubled with 24 points on 8-of-16 shooting (6-of-7 from three), 10 rebounds and nine assists, still good for his 23rd double-double of the campaign.

With Washington ahead 72-70 at the 4:31 mark of the third, Charlotte closed the frame on a 19-10 run, with 14 of these points coming from Isaiah Thomas on a perfect 5-of-5 shooting. The Wizards got to within three early in the fourth before the Hornets uncorked a 15-2 run – the first 10 points coming from Rozier – to put a victorious bow on their regular season finale.

“Today was very reflective of our season, in general,” said Hornets Head Coach James Borrego afterwards. “You go through highs and lows and you figure it out together. That’s what we did this season. Eighty-two-game season, there were highs and lows and we got better throughout the season, just like we did tonight. In the game, we got better as the game went along. We figured it out and that’s what it takes.”

Thomas and Jalen McDaniels each finished with 14 points to lead a Charlotte bench that outscored Washington’s by a 49-37 margin. One of the only major blemishes in the final box score for the Hornets were turnovers – they committed a season-high 20 giveaways leading to 25 points going the other way.

Rui Hachimura (21) and Corey Kispert (20) both had 20-point showings for Washington in the loss, their ninth straight at Spectrum Center. The Wizards’ defense allowed Charlotte to shoot 54% from the field and also a blistering 55% from 3-point range (18-of-33).

Despite finishing 10th in the East for the second straight year following concurrent wins by Brooklyn, Cleveland and Atlanta, the Hornets have taken a major step in what has been an unusually competitive year for any playoff race in recent memory. The 43 victories are the most by a 10th-seeded team since the 2000-01 Seattle SuperSonics and also marks about a six and 14-win improvement from the past two seasons, respectively, based on winning percentage.

Added Borrego, “I’m extremely proud of that group, our staff – I could go down the line. Those players deserve a ton of credit for that growth we’ve seen. That’s tough to do back-to-back-to-back for three years. Most years, we’d be the seventh or eighth seed right now. The East got better and we got better. Now, we’ve got a shot to keep moving forward. Our season is not over. We’ve just put ourselves in position to continue our season, have a meaningful game on the road and I’m excited for our group. To be in this position today, our group has stuck together, fought together and really grown throughout the year. That’s all I can ask.”

The Hornets will now head south to face the ninth-seeded Atlanta Hawks in an elimination game on Wednesday, April 13 beginning at 7 PM ET. The winner will then advance to face the loser of Tuesday’s game between Brooklyn and Cleveland on Friday night.

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Thomas, Rozier Ignite Key Runs in Hornets’ Regular Season Finale

Vernon Carey Jr. Post-Draft Media Availability - 11/18/20

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Marcus Paige and Mangok Mathiang made their debuts on the NBA landscape this season as the first-ever two-way contract players in the history of the Charlotte Hornets franchise.

A second-year point guard who spent last season with the G League’s Salt Lake City Stars, the UNC alum Paige’s signing with the Hornets organization meant returning to the same state where he played collegiately. Mathiang, a rookie combo forward who played for Charlotte’s 2017 Summer League Team, joined the squad following a four-year career at Louisville.

Upon the completion of training camp, both players stayed on the Hornets roster until the beginning of the G League season in mid-November. They each ended up making their NBA debuts in a 110-93 home win over the Nuggets on Oct. 25. For Mathiang, this occasion was particularly momentous as he became just the fifth Sudanese-born player to ever appear in a regular season NBA game.

The pair spent the majority of the year playing for the Greensboro Swarm and were primarily only recalled to the Hornets roster on an at-need basis. Paige averaged 15.2 points on 42.8 percent shooting, 3.0 rebounds, 4.4 assists and 1.4 steals in 46 games (39 starts), while Mathiang put up 10.8 points on 51.9 percent shooting, a team-high 9.2 rebounds and 1.4 blocks in 43 outings (36 starts).

This year, Paige saw significant improvement in his shooting percentages compared to last season in addition to increased averages in rebounding, assists and steals. Mathiang was a double-double threat on a nightly basis in the G League thanks largely to his physicality and overall aggressiveness.

Although neither player had a large role for the Hornets at the NBA level this season, Marcus Paige and Mangok Mathiang’s progression over the course of the year was certainly a bright spot for the organization from a developmental standpoint.

Marcus Paige & Mangok Mathiang Through the Season

Check out scenes of Marcus Paige & Mangok Mathiang during the 2017-2018 Season.

Both players are heading for restricted free agency this summer and are eligible to receive qualifying offers (another two-way contract) from the Hornets, meaning the organization would be able to match any potential deal put forth by another organization. If qualifying offers aren’t extended, Paige and Mathiang would be unrestricted free agents and eligible to sign with any team they choose.

“It was a good season for me, individually. I got to check off some accomplishments [that] I’ve worked for my whole life; getting into a NBA game, scoring and being part of a team for a season. So, it was very exciting. Obviously, we hoped for more as a team, but on a personal level, I enjoyed it, learned a lot and it was a great experience for me.” – Marcus Paige (April 11)

“[For me], learning and just picking up things between [Greensboro] and here [in Charlotte] has been great. Just trying to stay alert so when I do get a call up that I’m always ready. For me, personally, it’s been great to get the best of both worlds and actually interact with a lot of veterans that we have here on our team.” – Mangok Mathiang (March 12)

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2017-18 Season Recap | Marcus Paige and Mangok Mathiang

Back in the NBA for the first time in three years, point guard Julyan Stone served largely as backcourt depth for the Charlotte Hornets throughout the 2017-18 season.

Stone signed with the organization last August after spending his previous three professional seasons playing in the NBA G League, Turkey and Italy. He started the year in the rotation with Michael Carter-Williams injured, finishing with a season-high-tying six points in the opener at Detroit. After making just two appearances, a left hamstring strain sidelined Stone for the next 17 outings.

With a crowded point guard rotation, Stone played rather sparingly this season and the situation got even murkier at times with Malik Monk fluctuating between both backcourt positions. The UTEP product did appear in five G league games for the Greensboro Swarm, posting averages of 7.0 points, 5.4 rebounds, 7.2 assists and 1.6 steals in 28.3 minutes.

Overall, it was a challenging season for Stone as injuries and the pecking order confined him to the bench for much of the year. Still though, the veteran was a serviceable enough option for the Hornets based on the role he was given.

Check out scenes of Julyan Stone during the 2017-2018 Season.

Stone has another season remaining on his current contract, although if the Hornets waive him prior to Wednesday, August 1, they will not owe him any money for the 2018-19 campaign. If he is indeed waived, Stone would be an unrestricted free agent and eligible to sign with any team, provided he is not initially claimed off waivers.

“I enjoyed [my season in Charlotte]. I had some injuries, but I think that comes with just playing the game, playing it hard. I wish we would have done better, but I think the guys and myself put effort into preparing ourselves. I think that says something to look forward to and something to be proud of.” – Julyan Stone

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2017-18 Season Recap | Julyan Stone

One of three free agent point guards added to the Hornets roster last summer, Michael Carter-Williams shined defensively for the team this year, although his availability was hampered by both preseason and late-season injuries.

After a one-year tenure with the Chicago Bulls, Carter-Williams chose to sign with Charlotte last July, putting his basketball future entirely in his own hands after being traded twice in his career. An offseason medical procedure on both knees delayed his Hornets debut until Nov. 5 and he missed the first nine games of the campaign.

Once Carter-Williams returned to action, he eventually established himself as a lengthy and athletic defense-first guard in the Hornets’ second unit. He ranked 10th in defensive real plus-minus amongst all NBA point guards this season (1.18), an ESPN-generated statistic that estimates a player’s “on-court impact on team defensive performance, measured in points allowed per 100 defensive possessions.”

Carter-Williams’ season came to an abrupt end on March 4 after he suffered a sprained left shoulder in a road loss to the Toronto Raptors that eventually required surgery. It was a disappointing turn of events for Carter-Williams as injuries continue to unfortunately be a reoccurring theme in his NBA career thus far.

Although not the year he envisioned when signing with the Hornets, Michael Carter-Williams still presented himself as one of the most defensively versatile point guards in the league this season.

Michael Carter-Williams Through the Season

Check out scenes of Michael Carter-Williams during the 2017-2018 Season.

Carter-Williams has completed his current contract and is an unrestricted free agent. As of now, he is free to sign with any team he chooses.

“There were some ups and downs. I was coming off an injury coming into the season and I had to do a lot to get back. I got back [and] it was a little rough for me at first and as the season went on, each month, it got better and better. We found a rhythm for a little while and then we were battling injuries all year. So, it was tough for us.” – Michael Carter-Williams

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2017-18 Season Recap | Michael Carter-Williams

After seemingly coming out of nowhere to make the Hornets roster last year, combo forward Treveon Graham took another step in his NBA career as a defensive and three-point specialist off the bench this season.

Thanks to another strong Summer League showing, Graham started the year with sizeable minutes in the Hornets rotation with the absences of Nic Batum (elbow) and Michael Kidd-Gilchrist (personal). He appeared in 10 of the first 11 games of the season, posting averages of 4.5 points, 2.6 rebounds, 1.7 assists and 0.8 steals in 20.5 minutes as a reserve.

The third-year pro saw his playing time fluctuate a bit with a healthy roster, but he continued building on his reputation as a versatile defender who could space the floor. He got back in the rotation for good in late December and averaged 4.3 points on 42.9 percent shooting (42.4 percent from three) and 1.9 rebounds in 42-straight appearances through March 24.

Graham would miss the final five games of the season after sustaining a concussion in a road game against the Washington Wizards on March 31. He finished the year having played in 63 total contests for the Hornets after registering 27 appearances in 2016-17.

Heading into unrestricted free agency, Graham proved his worth once again this season as a reliable two-way bench player whose skillset was predicated on toughness, versatility and intelligence.

Check out scenes of Treveon Graham during the 2017-2018 Season.

Graham has completed the final year of his current contract and is an unrestricted free agent. Right now, he is free to sign with any team he chooses this coming summer.

“I would love to come back to Charlotte. I built a home here and I love it here. Right now, [I’m] getting my body and my skill work ready for whatever, wherever I do end up. But like I said, I would love to be here and in Charlotte.” – Treveon Graham

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2017-18 Season Recap | Treveon Graham

It was a bounceback season of sorts for third-year power forward Frank Kaminsky as he finished the 2017-18 NBA campaign with the best shooting percentages of his professional career thus far.

Coming off an up-and-down sophomore season from an efficiency standpoint, Kaminsky hit the ground running this year with 18-or-more points in three of the team’s first four contests. Much like any young player, consistency continued to be the biggest challenge for Kaminsky in the first half of the season, although he was capable of getting hot on any given night for the Hornets.

Much like last season, the Wisconsin product’s best play of the year came after the All-Star Break as he posted averages of 12.2 points on 46.8 percent shooting (48.8 percent from three), 3.6 rebounds and 1.8 assists in 25 appearances as a reserve from Feb. 22-April 10. Kaminsky ranked seventh in the Eastern Conference in bench scoring and tied for sixth in bench three-point field goals per game (1.6) during this stretch.

Throughout the season, Kaminsky’s strengths lied in his ability as a seven-footer to knock down spot-up three-point attempts, handle the ball, facilitate and communicate defensively. He averaged just 0.8 turnovers per game (down from 1.0 in 2016-17) and also recorded a career-low 1.2 personal fouls per outing as well.

Heading into his fourth NBA season, the Hornets will hope to see Kaminsky continue emerging as one of the better bench scorers in the league while also building on his overall consistency on a night-to-night basis.

Check out scenes of Frank Kaminsky during the 2017-2018 Season.

Kaminsky is entering the final year of his rookie contract and is now eligible for an extension this offseason. If he is not extended by the November deadline, he will become a restricted free agent at the conclusion of the 2018-19 season. As long as the Hornets submit a predetermined qualifying offer to Kaminsky (if need be next offseason), they would have the ability to match any offers he receives from other teams.

“I feel like I was able to take steps forward with a bigger role. Obviously, this year did not go as expected for not only me, but for our team as a whole. I don’t really like to think about individual statistics and things like that. I’ve always judged basketball on a team level. We had more losses than wins this year and that’s something that’s going to sit on my mind all offseason.” – Frank Kaminsky