Kelly Oubre & Rozier Helps Hornets Deal Pistons 10th Straight Loss

Kelly Oubre & Rozier Helps Hornets Deal Pistons 10th Straight Loss

On Thursday night, Kelly Oubre Rozier scored 27 points to give Charlotte Hornets their 10th straight victory and help them defeat Detroit Pistons 113-103.

With LaMelo Ball (ankle) out of the lineup, Oubre has emerged as a key offensive component. He's averaging 24.8 points, 7.8 boards and 2.5 threes in 37.5 minutes of playing time.

Rozier’s Big Night

Terry Rozier had a remarkable night for the Charlotte Hornets on Thursday night when he scored 12 of their final 15 points to help them seal an epic win against Detroit Pistons 105-102 at Little Caesars Arena. It marked Rozier's fifth straight victory and first since January 27th of this year.

Rozier has been excelling as the Hornets' point guard without LaMelo Ball, averaging 20.4 points, 5.4 rebounds and 4.8 assists per game this season. Additionally, he leads the team in shooting percentage (58.8%) and boasts a career-best mark of 66% from three-point range.

He's averaging 36.5 minutes per game and has made seven-of-22 from three-point range in the past two contests. On Monday night, the Pistons will look for another great performance against a struggling Detroit team that has lost nine straight games and remains last place in the Eastern Conference.

The Hornets have a good chance to win this game against Detroit due to their impressive defense. In seven of their last eight games, they have held opponents under 100 points and only allowed 106.2 points per contest over the past four.

But they will need more than that to prevail in this game. Jaden Ivey, who averages 15.4 points and 4.9 assists per game this season, must deliver a big offensive showing.

Last week, Ivey had a remarkable game against the Washington Wizards when he scored 26 points on 5-of-13 shooting and dished out eight assists - giving him his second double-double of the season.

While Ivey has been a major factor in the Pistons' success this season, they will need more from their other starters to cover this game. Furthermore, first-round pick Mark Williams must deliver another strong performance; he has shown signs of improvement throughout the year, averaging 11.2 points and 9.0 rebounds over his last five games.

Borrego was pleased with Detroit's effort in their last few games, particularly noting Isaiah Stewart's efforts down low. He and Bridges especially shared praise for how hard they both worked to secure every second-chance opportunity, something which proved crucial in the final quarter when Detroit nearly gifted Charlotte a victory.

Oubre’s Big Night

On Thursday night, Rozier delivered a career-best 21 points on 10-for-19 shooting and added nine assists for the Hornets' 113-103 win over the Pistons. Additionally, Oubre was instrumental in Charlotte's third-quarter surge as he knocked down his initial three 3-pointers of the game to give them an 11-2 lead at halftime.

Rozier has been a key component for Charlotte this season and his performance against the Pistons demonstrated just how valuable he can be when on court. Being able to play this type of game every night gives the Hornets an edge that they haven't had in a long time.

This season, the Hornets have had trouble moving the ball effectively and that has limited their scoring opportunities. With only 15 assists on the year, they average just 8.3 points per 100 possessions. When they do manage to move it efficiently though, three players - Kelly Oubre, Terry Rozier and Jalen McDaniels - regularly topple 20 points.

On Sunday night, the Hornets battled hard to close within three points in the fourth quarter but ultimately fell short 119-115. As a result, they now have an overall record of 7-23 for this season.

Denver continued their impressive start to the season and emerged victorious against a struggling Hornets squad. Nikola Jokic scored 40 points on 12-of-18 shooting while adding 11 rebounds and four assists; he also converted on 4-of-4 from beyond the arc, giving him his best game of the year thus far.

Marvin Bagley III had an impressive night, finishing with 21 points and 12 rebounds on 8-of-12 shooting while also collecting six assists for his team. He's one of few bright spots in a lackluster Charlotte offense, which bodes well for his future in the Hornets' lineup.

Hayward’s Big Night

On Thursday night, the Charlotte Hornets rallied to defeat the Detroit Pistons 103-99, handing them their 10th straight loss. That loss comes at a cost, however; not only do the Hornets lack playoff contention but have lost LaMelo Ball for the remainder of the season due to an ankle injury.

Last week, flash mobbing in the Gordon Hayward sweepstakes seemed so unexpected. After all, he wasn't considered a top candidate for Boston's postseason run and had just come off of an average year in Utah with 14 points per game on average. It still surprised us all to see them go for it nonetheless!

If the Hornets want a chance at an end-of-season run, they must give Hayward the opportunity to prove he can be an asset on the court. Despite his age, he's already showing glimpses of his former self in Charlotte so far.

He may not be hitting many 3-pointers lately, but he is doing a better job finding his own shots and making them. That could be indicative of an impending return to MVP-caliber form from last season.

As a result, the Hornets have gone 6-1 in their last eight games, including two wins over top-10 teams. They are currently tied for fifth place in the NBA standings and can make serious progress over the next few weeks if they can keep winning games without Ball.

They must do this with the help of their young players, including recent top-3 pick LaMelo Ball and rising third-year guard Devonte' Graham. The Hornets boast an array of talented youngsters on their roster to make that happen.

Hayward's big free-agent signing for the Hornets appears to have paid off so far, with him averaging 22.5 points and 5.2 rebounds in 11 games thus far. Furthermore, he's playing more aggressive defense, helping them get out on breaks more frequently and providing assistance on defense in order for the team to stay organized.

Washington’s Big Night

In a game between teams that hadn't been competitive this season, the Hornets came out on top. Despite poor shooting, an absence of help defense and some turnovers, they were able to secure victory.

Terry Rozier had an outstanding game for the Hornets, scoring 27 points and making seven 3-pointers to help them defeat Houston Rockets 123-99.

Nick Richards also contributed to the Hornets' victory, scoring 13 points and pulling down 10 rebounds - one of five players with double-doubles this season.

After a slow start in the first quarter, the Hornets managed to rally for victory and take control of the game. After the Pistons went on a 9-0 run to begin the night, however, the Hornets countered that by taking control of possession in the second.

For the second game in a row, Detroit began slowly but found their groove after the first quarter. They went on to outscore Charlotte by an extensive margin in the third quarter.

Corey Kispert had an ideal game in the win, scoring 18 points on 6-of-6 shooting from the field. He added four rebounds, two assists and zero turnovers.

He was able to keep up with the Wizards in the fourth quarter, as Washington went on a few mini-runs while keeping the Jazz from seizing control of the game.

The Wizards were able to get back on track and secure a third straight victory against the Utah Jazz in Washington D.C. This is certainly one that Washington can be proud of.

Though the Wizards outscored the Jazz in the first half, they struggled to put the ball in the basket. Eventually, however, the Jazz were able to cut their deficit down to six or seven points in the fourth quarter.

Washington will be eager to put this game behind them, particularly after their heartbreaking loss to the Boston Celtics earlier this season. The Wizards are determined to get back on track and secure another victory in this crucial clash.