While there’s not lots to be excited about regarding the Charlotte Hornets, Monday night’s home game should create some buzz.
That’s because the opponent is the Golden State Warriors, who’ll be playing in Stephen Curry’s hometown.
The Warriors had a strong February even though March began with a dud. Their focus is on doing enough to make it into the postseason.
Warriors coach Steve Kerr channeled his inner Jim Mora when answering an inquiry about making the NBA Finals.
“We would like to make the playoffs,” Kerr said. “The playoffs. You’re talking about the Finals? We just want to make the playoffs.”
Yet Kerr said Curry can’t be taxed too much.
“I can’t play him 40 minutes,” Kerr said. “I don’t really want to play him much more than 34, 35. … He’ll get his rest (Sunday) and be ready to go in Charlotte.”
The Hornets have a six-game losing streak, with all except one of those defeats by double-figure margins.
The Warriors hammered the Hornets last week in a 128-92 romp in San Francisco.
Both teams lost Saturday, with the Warriors falling 126-119 at Philadelphia as a five-game winning streak came to an end.
Curry has posted 56 and 29 points in the first two games of Golden State’s five-game road trip. His 15 points against the Hornets in the first meeting came with just 2-for-9 shooting on 3-pointers.
Curry had his first dunk since 2019 on Saturday.
“You have to cherry-pick opportunities,” Curry said. “That will probably be the last one (of my career).”
The Hornets dropped a 113-100 home decision to the Washington Wizards in a matchup of the Eastern Conference’s bottom two teams. That marked the beginning of Charlotte’s five-game homestand.
Of concern for the Hornets has been shot selection. That has corresponded to fastbreak opportunities for opponents, something coach Charles Lee said he hopes to address.
For Charlotte, the Golden State game last Tuesday moved the team into unflattering territory. It was part of a three-game spread when the Hornets’ losses by a combined 131 points and marked the biggest three-game deficit for a team in NBA history. The old record came three years earlier by Portland at 114 total points.
Hornets center Mark Williams might be getting in a groove based on his 24-point, 12-rebound effort against Washington for his second consecutive game with big production. The latest outing marked his first home game since his trade to the Los Angeles Lakers had been rescinded.
“Just more reps, more time on the court,” Lee said of Williams. “He continues to get better, find his way and his rhythm. We just need him to be able to do it for 48 minutes. Every minute he’s out there, he has the ability to do it.”
Williams had 12 points and 12 rebounds in last week’s matchup with Golden State.
While Williams might be unleashed for the rest of the season, the Hornets will be more cautious with guard LaMelo Ball. He returned to play Saturday after another absence with a foot ailment. It sounds as though his status might be more game-to-game.
“Looking forward to just being mindful and smart with how we continue to finish the season with him,” Lee said.
–Field Level Media
