The Charlotte Hornets have one more chance to try to make something good out of a long homestand, but De’Aaron Fox and the San Antonio Spurs will attempt to prevent that on Friday night.
Fox is set for his second game with the Spurs after a trade from the Sacramento Kings earlier this week.
“It will definitely be a learning process and I’m fine with it,” he said.
The Spurs are excited to see how things develop around their star guard.
“A player of his caliber and the experience (he) has been around the league, there is nothing most of the time those guys haven’t seen,” San Antonio interim coach Mitch Johnson said. “I don’t see any issue with him getting up to speed. Obviously, it’s going to take some time.”
The Spurs snapped a two-game slide by winning 126-125 at Atlanta on Wednesday night. Fox shared team scoring honors with 24 points and had a game-high 13 assists. Second-year phenom Victor Wembanyama, who also scored 24 points and added 12 rebounds, made the decisive free throw.
The Hornets have dropped six straight, the latest a 112-102 setback to the visiting Milwaukee Bucks on Wednesday.
Charlotte is in a transition period as well pending formal approval of the trade of center Mark Williams to the Los Angeles Lakers for guard Dalton Knecht and forward Cam Reddish, a 2031 unprotected first-round draft pick and a swap of 2030 first-round picks.
The Hornets also acquired center Jusuf Nurkic and a 2026 first-round pick from the Phoenix Suns for forward Cody Martin, guard Vasilije Micic and a 2026 second-round choice.
It’s uncertain if the newcomers would be available Friday night.
This game will mark the end of Charlotte’s nine-game homestand, with the Hornets 1-7 during this stretch.
With the trade deadline passing on Thursday afternoon, the Hornets had enough to be consumed about than to be bothered by any trade implications.
“You’re just trying to keep everybody’s focus on the next day and what you can control,” coach Charles Lee said. “That’s where our focus has to stay — our obsession with daily improvement, and everything else just plays itself out.”
The Hornets’ backcourt has been affected by injuries, with LaMelo Ball has missing time with his latest ankle ailment, though he could return against San Antonio. He’s listed as questionable.
On the plus side, Tidjane Salaun played on Wednesday for the first time in nearly three weeks after sitting out with an illness and spending time in the G League. Lee said it will be exciting to see if he continues to progress after an encouraging return (10 points, four rebounds in 22 minutes).
“We’re always happy with his passion and the energy he plays with,” Lee said. “You see that he’s driving the ball with more force.”
Wembanyama, who’s averaging 24.6 points per game this season, didn’t play as a rookie in San Antonio’s loss last season in Charlotte, but he pumped in 26 points in a home victory against the Hornets.
This will be the teams’ first meeting of the season.
–Field Level Media
