The Charlotte Hornets finally stopped the bleeding on Monday night with a massive 124-112 win over the Cleveland Cavaliers. This victory ended a painful six-game losing skid that had the fanbase worried about the season. The team shot a blistering 50 percent from deep, hitting 23 of 46 three-point attempts to bury the Cavs.
Veterans Step Up When Stars Sit
With Brandon Miller, Dennis Schröder, and other key players out due to injury, the Hornets needed big shots from their veterans. Grayson Allen answered the call with a team-high 27 points while sinking six three-pointers. Naz Reid also dominated inside and out, posting a double-double with 25 points and 13 rebounds, according to NBA.com. According to NBA.com, Reid set the tone early with 15 points in the first quarter alone. These two players combined for 52 points.
The offensive explosion was about shooting and flow. The Hornets dished out a season-high 29 assists on their 44 made baskets. This ball movement kept the Cleveland defense off-balance and allowed shooters to find open spots. The team also limited turnovers to just 14, a huge improvement over their league-worst average. The league leader in turnovers per game finally found a way to take care of the ball.
Kalkbrenner Controls The Glass
By controlling the rebounds, Ryan Kalkbrenner produced the night’s most significant inside effort. He grabbed a game-high 15 rebounds, which included a staggering 10 offensive rebounds. This relentless work on the glass gave Charlotte vital second-chance points that kept the lead growing. Kalkbrenner also recorded three blocked shots and finished with a plus-20 rating. His effort offset the size advantage of the Cavaliers’ frontcourt.
Even with a lead of 33 points at one stage, the game got tense in the fourth quarter. The Cavaliers cut the deficit to just eight points before the Hornets pulled away. Five unanswered second-chance points, all set up by Kalkbrenner’s offensive boards, helped seal the win. The Hornets outscored Cleveland 20-7 in second-chance points, a stat that shows their hustle paid off. Kalkbrenner stepped up big time in place of the injured Moussa Diabaté.
Young players like Tidjane Salaün also showed promise during the win. Salaün scored a season-high 14 points, all coming in the second quarter to help build the early lead. Christian Anderson Jr. and Sion James added a combined 11 points. The team shot 21 of 41 from deep in the first half, setting a high bar for the rest of the game. Per NBA.com, this win put an end to the hosts’ pesky six-game skid.
