After a challenging defeat against Kevin Durant and the Houston Rockets, the Charlotte Hornets faced off against the Cleveland Cavaliers on Friday night at the Spectrum Center. This matchup saw the Cavaliers sporting a new roster dynamic, featuring former NBA MVP James Harden, who replaced Darius Garland after the Cavaliers traded him ahead of the deadline. Harden, now the 9th all-time leading scorer in the NBA, is seen as a pivotal addition in the Cavs’ quest to capture their first championship since the franchise’s iconic triumph in 2016.
The Hornets, however, were missing four significant contributors in this game, with Moussa Diabate, Grant Williams, Miles Bridges, and Coby White all sidelined due to various circumstances. This absence left Charlotte considerably short-handed, despite their recent success, having won ten of their last twelve games prior to the Cavaliers showdown. The team ultimately fell to Cleveland by a score of 118-113.
The need for Coby White’s scoring off the bench was evident, as the Hornets’ reserves managed only 24 points during the game. Tidjane Salaün led the bench with a modest 9 points, and the team struggled to maintain offensive efficiency during LaMelo Ball’s time on the bench. White, who was expected to bring instant offensive firepower, will be a welcomed boost when healthy.
Furthermore, the suspensions of Diabate and Bridges for their involvement in a recent altercation with the Detroit Pistons proved detrimental. Both players are crucial for the Hornets, especially Bridges, whose scoring ability has been sorely missed across the last two games. With only a limited front court consisting of Ryan Kalkbrenner, PJ Hall, Salaün, and Xavier Tillman Sr., the Hornets faced quite the uphill battle.
Despite the setback, Hornets fans can take pride in their team’s improvement. The loss marked the first time in 44 days that Charlotte suffered back-to-back losses—a noteworthy statistic considering they had not experienced such a stretch since the 2015-16 season. Having struggled last season with fewer than 20 wins, the Hornets are now tantalizingly close to the playoffs, sitting just 3.5 games behind the eighth-seeded Miami Heat.
With the right adjustments and the return of key players, the Hornets are positioned to continue their progress and potentially make a significant push as the season unfolds.