J-Speaks: Hornets Two Big Wins

With their playoff hopes on life support, the Charlotte Hornets needed two big wins in a weekend back-to-back set against two of the Top 5 teams record wise in the Eastern Conference. They came up aces in those back-to-back tilts first at home and then an epic finish on the road. 

On Sunday night, reserve guard Jeremy Lamb brought a dose of NCAA March Madness to Toronto, Ontario banking in a three-pointer from midcourt at the buzzer to give the Hornets (34-39) a 115-114 win at the Toronto Raptors (51-23), their third straight victory. 

“I have no idea, man,” Lamb, who had 15 points hitting 3 for 4 from three-point range said to FOX Sports Southeast’s Ashley ShahAhmadi after the win, “I just want to thank Jesus Christ cause that’s the only way that shot went in.”  

Only current Indiana Pacers’ reserve guard Tyreke Evans 49-footer at the buzzer against the Memphis Grizzlies on Dec. 29, 2010 was longer than Lamb’s 48-footer he hit on Saturday night, according to ESPN.  

This is on the heels of their 18-point comeback win versus the Boston Celtics (43-31) on Saturday night 124-117, as they outscored the No. 5 Seeded C’s 35-19 in the final period.  outscored the No. 5 Seeded Boston Celtics 35-19 in the fourth period. 

These last two wins demonstrated not only the Hornets mental toughness against two Eastern Conference teams with championships aspirations but they found a way to win games by making big plays when it mattered most and got contributions from multiple players. 

In the final eight minutes of their win versus the Celtics on Saturday night, the Hornets outscored them 30-5, going 9 for 16 from the field, including 6 for 9 from three-point range, with three-time All-Star Kemba Walker scoring 18 of his 36 points on 6 for 10 shooting in those last 7:43 of the final period. He went 11 for 25 overall from the floor on that evening, including 6 for 13 from three-point range, with 11 rebounds and nine assists.

“You just keep playing,” Walker, who had his 23^rd game of the season scoring 30 or more said after the win versus the Celtics. “In the league, anything can happen. Once one team gets momentum, things can change really fast.” 

While Walker was at his absolute best on this night as he has been all season long, the Hornets got a stellar performance from rookie Miles Bridges had a career-high of 20 points, while Marvin Williams and second-year sharp shooter Malik Monk each chipped in 13 points and fellow rookie Dwayne Bacon scored 11. 

In the Hornets epic victory on Sunday night at the Raptors, Walker had a double-double of 15 points and 13 assists, with four steals but was just 3 for 17 from the field on the evening. 

Bacon picked up the slack scoring a career-high of 20 points on 7 for 14 shooting, including 5 for 8 from three-point range. Bridges followed up his career-high scoring night with 16 points and six rebounds. Reserve big man Willy Hernangomez had a double-double of 13 points and 10 rebounds off the bench. Rookie guard Devonte’ Graham, who had two big defensive plays down the stretch against the Celtics had 10 points and nine assists in 22 minutes off the bench. Williams had 10 points.

“Well they looked confident. They looked like they belonged. They want to be out there,” Hornets first-year head coach James Borrego said to ShahAhmadi about the play of Bacon, Bridges and Graham the last two nights. 

“They’re stepping up right now. What a great action for them right now, just to get these minutes in this type of environment. Couldn’t be anymore happy for them. Their growth, you know, every single game is there...Our young guys have really stepped up. So, really proud of them.” 

The Hornets dominated the Raptors for the first three quarters and took a 12-point lead (95-83) into the fourth period, thanks to hitting 10 for 16 from three-point range in the third quarter and went 18 for 41 from distance on the night. The 10 threes set a new franchise record, with five of those triples coming of the right hand of Bacon. 

Trailing 109-96 with 7:50 left, Raptors responded with a 10-0 run behind reserve guard Fred VanVleet hit back-to-back triples, which was followed by dunks from Pascal Siakam and Kawhi Leonard that cut the deficit to 109-106. Leonard, who had 28 points on the night cut the Hornets lead to one with a jumper. 

After Bacon split a pair of free throws one possession later, he and Siakam swapped layups before Leonard tied things up at 112-112. 

Leonard hit the go-ahead basket with 44.0 seconds left, to cap an 18-3 overall run and blocked Walker’s go-ahead shot at the other end. He could not close the game out though as his next jumper was off, giving the Hornets a chance to either tie the game or win it with a triple. 

Siakam knocked away the inbounds pass from Bacon to Lamb, who was able to chase the ball into the backcourt and launched the prayer that as previously mentioned banked in at the buzzer. 

Along with getting balanced offensive production, the Hornets won on back-to-back nights because they did the little things as well. 

The Hornets were able to win versus the Celtics on Saturday night thanks to their 22-28 night from the charity stripe; out-rebounding the visitors 63-50, including 14-7 on the offensive glass and going 18 for 38 from three-point range. 

In the win at the Raptors, the Hornets out-rebounded the Raptors 45-41, including 14-3 on the offensive glass; had 32 assists and just eight turnovers, while turning 13 Raptors miscues, 12 of which on steals into 18 points.  

“I couldn’t be more proud of them I think,” Borrego said to ShahAhmadi after the win at the Raptors. “I’m so happy for them. They deserved this win. They battled, they’re sticking together, they’re playing for each other-32 assists again tonight, 26 last night. The ball is moving.” 

“On the road, in a very tough environment. A fully loaded Toronto team. I was just proud of them, on both ends of the floor. They’re playing for each other. I thought we defended very well tonight, gave ourselves a chance. They made a run there at the end and we figured out a way to close out another close game here on the road.” think everybody contributed. Everybody played well. They want on a big run. I’m just thankful that last shot went in.” 

With their playoff hopes on life support, the Hornets could have easily in both games could have wilted but walked the tight rope and found a way to get it done and remain two games of the Miami Heat (36-37) for the No. 8 and final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference. In between them though are the No. 9 Seeded Orlando Magic (35-38), who are one game in front of them. 

These two wins have given the Hornets the opportunity to play meaningful games the final three weeks of the 2018-19 NBA regular-season as they try to reach the playoffs for the first time since 2016, where they lost in seven games in the First-Round against the Heat. 

The advantage the Hornets have is they have the edge in the season series against the Magic 2-1, with the final tilt at Spectrum Center in Charlotte, NC on Apr. 10, the final night of the regular-season. They split four meetings with the Heat this season at 2-2. 

The disadvantage for the Hornets, six of their final nine games are on the road, which includes a four-game West Coast trip from Mar. 29-Apr. 3 at the Los Angeles Lakers, the back-to-back defending champion Golden State Warriors, Utah Jazz and New Orleans Pelicans. 

The goal the Hornets had coming into this season was to make the playoffs. They are in position to make that a reality. While it will be tough, these winning three straight and two on a rough back-to-back against the Celtics and Raptors should give the Hornets some confidence as they close this season trying to play past Apr. 10. 

“Every game is huge. It feels good to come out and get a big road win, especially at this point in the season but we got a lot of work to do and we’re going to keep fighting,” Lamb said to ShahAhmadi. 

Information, statistics, and quotations are courtesy of 3/24/19 6 p.m. “Charlotte Hornets versus Toronto Raptors,” on FOX Sports Southeast with Eric Collins, Dell Curry, and Ashley ShahAhmadi; 3/24/19 8:30 p.m. edition of “Hornets Live,” presented by Cook Out on FOX Sports Southeast with Eric Collins, Dell Curry, and Ashley ShahAhmadi; www.espn.com/nba/recap/boxscore/teamstats?gameid=401071760; www.espn.com/nba/recap/boxscore/teamstats?gameid=401071771; www.espn.com/nba/standings; 3/25/19 6 a.m. edition of ESPN’s “Sportscenter,” with Steve Levy and John Anderson; and https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Charlotte_Hornets_seasons.