After a strong three-game stretch post-injury, Talen Horton-Tucker has been the complete opposite in the last three games.
Horton-Tucker has scored just 10 points during his last three games after averaging over 23 points a game in his first three. The 20-year-old guard is shooting 4-of-27 overall in these last three contests, including an 0-of-8 outing in the loss to the New York Knicks.
LeBron James played with Horton-Tucker in two of those games, which could have affected Horton-Tucker’s rhythm with limited touches. That’s why head coach Frank Vogel tried to utilize the young guard in a new way against the Knicks.
“It’s tough. We tried using him as a point guard instead of (Rajon) Rondo tonight in the minutes Russ(ell Westbrook) was out. I don’t know if that had anything to do with it. Again, we’ll have to look at the tape,” Vogel said after the loss. “I thought there were two plays where he went to the basket early in the game and got fouled, ended up missing the shot cause the whistle didn’t blow and sometimes, that affects your confidence.”
Vogel added Horton-Tucker made some nice plays for teammates while facilitating.
“I do know that he made some really good paint-the-great passes,” Vogel said. “Found guys for 3-point shots, had four assists. Overall, played a decent game, just didn’t finish. It’s just one of those nights for him, so he’s going to be fine. We’ll look at the tape as we always do and learn from it.”
