The Charlotte Hornets return to Capital One Arena on Friday night for a crucial NBA Cup Group C matchup against the Washington Wizards. This game comes just four days after Charlotte secured a 110-103 victory over the same opponent in Charlotte. A win on Friday would be vital for the Hornets to stay on track in their quest to win the group, which also includes Boston, Atlanta, and Chicago.
Both teams are dealing with significant injury issues that could sway the outcome. The Hornets are without Coby White and Grant Williams, while the Wizards are missing key players like Tre Johnson and Tristan Vukcevic. Despite these absences, Charlotte has started the season 3-2. The team will rely heavily on Brandon Miller, who recently scored 31 points in a loss to the Detroit Pistons.
Second Look at a Tough Matchup
Charlotte has a history of success against Washington from last season, going 4-0 against them. However, the rosters have changed drastically since then. Washington now features new additions like Trae Young and Anthony Davis, who bring a different level of talent to the court. According to Sports Illustrated, the Hornets should not expect last year’s results to carry over simply because the team names remain the same.
The Wizards have shown flashes of their new potential, with Anthony Davis displaying some of his former All-Star play. Yet, they still struggle with cohesive defense. A win here sets the tone for the rest of the tournament, especially before they face Boston at home on November 6.
Health and Turnovers Define the Path
The path to winning the group requires the Hornets to beat Washington and Chicago, then secure one win against either Boston or Atlanta. Point differential will also play a role in tie-breaking scenarios, making every possession count. The team has been dealing with a hamstring injury for Kon Knueppel, who missed the start of the season. According to Sports Illustrated, Thursday’s practice assignment to the Greensboro Swarm indicates his imminent return.
Turnovers have been a major issue for Charlotte recently. In their Wednesday night loss to Detroit, the team turned the ball over 25 times, which allowed the Pistons to pull away. In that contest, Brandon Miller recorded 31 points and 12 rebounds, but he missed five of his seven fourth‑quarter attempts.
A Critical Test Before the Break
The Hornets play Friday night before a two‑week break and a trip to Atlanta on November 20. The team has shown they can handle a big part of the scoring load through Miller even without their top guards. The NBA preview for East Group C noted that Knueppel is expected to return during group play, giving the team a significant boost.
The Hornets need to exploit this weakness while managing their own offensive flow. As noted in the game preview by Bullets Forever, this is a great game to gauge how the new squads mesh.
