Hornets win streak snapped by Nets, 115-86

The Charlotte Hornets struggled to generate offense as they had their modest three game win streak snapped by the Brooklyn Nets, 115-86.

The teams went full gunner to start the game. The first five baskets of the game were 3-pointers, including two from Miles Bridges. The Nets didn’t even attempt a shot from inside the arc until their tenth shot attempt. After the hot start, both teams went cold for a long stretch in the middle of the quarter before the Nets found the stroke again. Malik Monk did the same, hitting a pair of 3-pointers and a tough fadeaway in the lane. After one, the Hornets trailed 30-25, with Bridges and Malik Monk scoring eight points apiece in the frame.

The Hornets went ice cold in the second quarter and ended up with only 20 points. There isn’t much else to write about there. Neither team went on any significant run. No player played exceptionally well or poorly. The teams just played a rather bland quarter of basketball with the Nets making a few more shots than the Hornets. At the half, the Hornets trailed by 10.

The Hornets came out of the break flat. The Nets got a few easy looks while the Hornets offense was stuck in the mud. Cody Zeller provided a spark in that department with a couple dunks on offense and some big boy rebounds on the defensive end. The Nets went zone on defense for a few possessions, which threw off the Hornets offense just enough. Bismack Biyombo shot a free throw about 14 feet in a fitting tribute to the Hornets offense. After three, the Hornets trailed 88-63.

With the game pretty much out of reach, the Hornets went to a full court press that seemed to wake them up a bit. After the Nets opened the quarter with a fluky layup, the Hornets scored ten straight points that included back to back triples from PJ Washington and an and-1 (minus the free throw) and a funky floater from Jalen McDaniels. The Nets answered with a couple buckets of their own that effectively put the game out of reach. Washington scored 13 points in the quarter which will hopefully be a confidence boost for him going forward.

PJ Washington led five Hornets in double figures with 16 points. Miles Bridges scored 13, snapping his nine game streak with at least 15 points. Malik Monk scored 15, but it took him 15 shots to get there.

The Hornets will try to right the ship in Indiana on Tuesday.