The unusual three-day break in between games was supposed to be a nice reset of sort for the Charlotte Hornets.
Rare practice time. A brief stopover at home. Things to massage their mental given they were in the midst of a three-game losing streak.
But it all came crashing to a thud Saturday morning when LaMelo Ball, Terry Rozier, Mason Plumlee and Jalen McDaniels entered the league’s health and safety protocols, leaving them each potentially sidelined for 10 days. A blow seemingly out of nowhere.
“The initial news is always, it will take a little bit out of your sail,” coach James Borrego said. “It will hit you in the gut a little, When they say, ‘Player X, Y and Z tested this,’ my initial gut is it takes your breath away for a second. Then you regroup and go, ‘We’ve been here before. ... It’s still a challenge obviously. It still hits you a little bit. ‘I can’t believe these guys are out and I still can’t believe we are dealing with this.’ But we are built to respond.”
Apparently, the are. Holding firm in the fourth quarter despite Atlanta’s charge, the undermanned Hornets knocked off the Hawks 130-127 at State Farm Arena to snap their losing skid.
Here are three things we learned in the Hornets’ victory in Atlanta:
NEW MAKESHIFT STARTING 5
Ish Smith went from out of the rotation into the starting lineup. And aside from the incredible second-half performance he had in Brooklyn against the Nets, he turned in his best outing of the season.
Receiving his first start, Smith had a season-best 18 points along with seven assists and five rebounds. Bridges, one of the mainstays, scored 13 of his game-high 32 points in the fourth quarter.
Borrego gave Kelly Oubre his sixth start at shooting guard in place of Rozier and went with Nick Richards at center, and the new starting five scored all but 17 of the 68 points they posted in the first half. Gordon Hayward wasn’t as on in the second half as he was in the first, and with three-fifths of their typical starting lineup out it’s going to be important for him to pick up some of the additional load created in their absence.
Despite their lack of play as a unit together, the starting five didn’t turn the ball over once through the first half. In fact, the Hornets did an exceptional job taking care of the ball in their fast-paced first half. PJ Washington had the lone miscue.
CODY MARTIN SOLID IN RETURN
Whatever Cody Martin had, he’s over it.
After sitting out in Chicago and Milwaukee due to illness, which he attributed to some kind of stomach bug, Martin returned to action as expected and immediately showed off his versatility. Borrego used him as a ball-handler to bring it up the floor and get them into their offense.
Coming off the bench, he was effective all the way around, registering a career-best 19 points to go with six rebounds and four assists. Hawks center John Collins did get the best of him in the third quarter with a nasty right-handed dunk.
OPEN BOUK TEST
Fans have been clamoring to see James Bouknight.
Up until his number was called against the Hawks, the lone time the Hornets’ first-round pick saw action as a pro was long after the outcome was decided. But with the limited number of guards the Hornets currently have available, he’s risen in the rotation and got his opportunity to contribute.
It was brief, though.
In his six minutes he didn’t score, mustering just one shot — a layup blocked at the rim.
“He’s been working behind the scenes,” Borrego said. “Bouk’s been working. He’s had some good G league games. Bouk has been a productive player. He’s ready for this moment, he’s been looking forward to this moment.
“He’s put a couple of weeks together in the G league, so he’s ready.”
