CHARLOTTE, N.C. — It’s not normal for the opposing team to actually spend more time in the city than the home team, establishing itself for so long that a carry-on bag likely wouldn’t do any justice.
The Philadelphia 76ers did just that over the past five days and were in Charlotte so long they could have nearly filed for residency.
“We can start paying North Carolina taxes, which may be a blessing,” Philadelphia coach Doc Rivers said. “But it’s nice. We were disappointed. We wanted warm weather the entire time, but we got it for most of the time so that was very nice.”
Philadelphia was at home, the very same way it’s been over the past couple of seasons, and that didn’t change Wednesday night. Playing again without five key players, the Hornets didn’t quite have enough and were outlasted by the 76ers 110-106 at Spectrum Center.
That’s now 16 straight losses for the Hornets (14-13) versus Philadelphia.
“None of these games are really connected except that (Joel) Embiid’s been a problem for us for that stretch,” Hornets coach James Borrego said. “That’s really the big thing. He gets to the free-throw line. I can remember a number of games where he got to the free-throw line, made free throws late. There’s one game where he hit a big 3 in Philly one time.
“He’s hit big shots for them and we just got to keep doing our best. It’s going to turn. It’s just a matter of time.”
Here are three things we learned in the Hornets’ loss to the 76ers:
FAST GORDON
Unlike two nights earlier, when he got off to a sluggish start and had a rough time shooting, there was no such snail-like beginning to this one for Gordon Hayward.
Hayward admitted after Monday’s loss that he had to play better and needed to connect on more of his field-goal attempts, and he was assertive from the get-go. Whether it was firing away from the perimeter, penetrating into the lane to make a bucket or create something for others, Hayward served as the Hornets’ main catalyst.
He posted 14 of his season-best 31 points in the first half and kept it going with an impressive 14-point third quarter.
KELLY OUBRE DIDN’T HAVE IT
Almost no one has been hotter for the Hornets than Kelly Oubre and Rivers was fully aware of that.
“He’s playing great,” Rivers said. “I was hoping to see the Golden State, first-15 game Kelly Oubre. But that one didn’t show up. He has great athleticism. Defensively he can be an elite defensive player every night and it’s been the offense that’s been up and down for him and now it’s up. It’s been great all year for him. I think the stint in Golden State helped him. They stayed with him, showed him some confidence and I think he’s brought that into this year.”
Oubre’s stroke betrayed him for once against the 76ers. His shot was off early on and although he mustered 22 points, his 8-for-22 shooting display was his worst since Nov. 20 in Atlanta when he went 4 of 14.
Coincidentally, the person most responsible for helping the Hornets land Oubre in the offseason, had both sides well represented. Oubre’s agent Torrel Harris is also Tobias Harris’ father.
‘D’ on JOEL EMBIID BETTER BUT ...
After watching him torch them to the tune of 45 points and control the glass with 18 rebounds 48 hours prior, the Hornets focused heavily on containing Joel Embiid. And for the most part, they kept Philadelphia’s talented big man from completely dominating them on the interior.
At least until late in the fourth quarter.
The Hornets threw multiple bodies at Embiid, ranging from Nick Richards to P.J. Washington, and used double teams at times to force Embiid to get rid of the ball. But in the fourth quarter, they couldn’t do much to slow him down.
