Story By: Sol Tucker
Photos By: Sol Tucker
Washington, D.C–
Lets face it, this is not the same Charlotte Hornets team from three seasons ago. This is a bunch of young guys led by LaMelo Ball who has the energy to run with some of the best teams in the NBA this season. Tonight they did just that and were able to withstand a late comeback from the Wizards and take the second game from them in just under a week.
The Hornets then used a 14-3 run to end the second frame, taking a nine point lead into halftime that allowed them to carry a double-digit lead for most of the third quarter.
The big difference following that run was Hornets guard Terry Rozier. He not only carried the team with Ball in the final minutes, but he was able to a hit a clutch three pointer with 12.9 seconds remaining to end the Wizards hopes of another come back victory tonight. It was his eighth made three pointer of the game.
Montrezl Harrell scored 24 points and had a season-high 18 rebounds for the Wizards, while Kentavious Caldwell-Pope had 17 points, Bradley Beal scored 18 and Kyle Kuzma had 11 points and 13 rebounds.
Harrell who continues to be a spark for this team had two huge rebounds in the final frame, but it was not enough to make up for a few of the Wizards defensive miscues leaving either Ball or Rozier open from long range.
The Wizards had trailed by as many as 17 in the second half, but used a late 7-0 rally to cut the deficit to 105-103 after a 3 by Caldwell-Pope with 51.6 seconds left.
