CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Maybe the Hornets’ struggled began with the earlier tip off time, which came 10 minutes quicker than normal because the NBA purposefully staggered its games on the eve before election day.
Perhaps Charlotte’s tough start stemmed from once again not having All-Star point guard LaMelo Ball, who’s now closing in on a dozen games missed as he works his way back from a sprained left ankle.
Whatever the reason, the Charlotte Hornets looked rather lifeless at the outset of their matchup with Washington on Monday night. Considering they were skidding, having dropped four straight and six of seven, the slow start was a bit of a head-scratcher.
Although they eventually picked it up and clawed back into a game that featured 14 lead changes, the Hornets never got it going long enough offensively and fell to the Wizards, 108-100, at Spectrum Center.
Here’s what we learned in the Hornets fifth straight defeat:
Cold cuts
To say the Hornets were a bit chilly from the floor is an understatement.
Although they canned 41.6% of their shot attempts, it certainly felt worse than that, likely due to their atrocious display from 3-point range. They misfired on their first 12 shots beyond the 3-point arc and made 5 of 29 overall — a number that actually improved after a 1-for-13 first half.
Offensively, the Hornets never found a sustainable rhythm and were stagnant too often. The were especially off in the second half, producing buckets on only 17 of 46 attempts.
DSJ toughs it out
Dennis Smith Jr. apparently had no plans to join the Hornets’ walking wounded.
Despite sitting out for most of Saturday night after suffering a sprained left ankle and being listed as questionable, Smith Jr. started his ninth straight game. And he was his usual, steady self.
Smith Jr. posted three points, 10 assists and five rebounds in 34 minutes, not displaying any noticeable effects of his injury.
Smith Jr. even tied his career high in blocks with three before the action even hit the midway point in the third quarter and also had an impressive reverse baseline dunk.
Reverse bully ball
Washington made a concerted effort to get the ball inside from the get-go, scoring six of its initial nine points in the paint. It seemed like it was going to be a long evening on the interior for the Hornets.
But they flipped he script on the Hornets and utilized a little bully ball to climb back into it and grab a two-point advantage at halftime. The 36 points in the paint through two quarters represented the Hornets’ season-best total for a half, and it was fueled by a 22-point second quarter inside, which was their top output in a 12-minute span all season.
The Hornets finished with a 70-58 cushion in points in the paint.
Could use more from Thor
JT Thor’s shooting numbers haven’t been very good this season, but coach Steve Clifford isn’t sweating it too much. At least, not yet.
Thor entered the night making just 33.3% of his attempts in the nine games he’s played in and was really ice-cold behind the 3-point line, connecting on a mere 23.5%. He fared mildly better against the Wizards, making 1 of 2 attempts and clanking his lone 3-pointer. He also had a nifty and-1 in the lane.
“I told him you’ve just got to keep shooting it,” Clifford said. “He’s a good shooter, he works hard at it with (assistant coach) Bruce (Kreutzer) every day. He’ll shoot a good percentage because he’s gotten good shots.
“He’s got a chance to be a good player. He’s 20 years old and he’s getting a good role, getting to play good minutes and he’s got a good attitude. So it’s good for him.”
