By Matt Rochinski, hornets.com
Hornets Head Coach Steve Clifford knew his team had to use its time wisely during its seven-day stretch between preseason games and his players took note. After a host of long practices, extensive film sessions and work on what Clifford referred to as all the “little things,” Charlotte traveled to Charlotte on Oct. 17 and came away with a 108-104 overtime victory.
Marco Belinelli and Frank Kaminsky came off the bench to lead the Hornets with 14 points apiece, while both Kemba Walker (11 points, eight rebounds) and Michael Kidd-Gilchrist (10 rebounds, nine points) flirted with double-doubles in Charlotte’s second-straight win.
Two key stretches showcased that the extra work the Hornets put in the last week and should give Charlotte fans optimism this team is getting closer to the start of the regular season less than two weeks away.
With so much time off, the Hornets wanted to get off to a good start and didn’t disappoint. Led by nine points on 3-of-4 shooting from Walker and six points apiece from Kidd-Gilchrist and Belinelli in the first frame, Charlotte used crisp ball movement and aggressively attacked the basket to build a 32-20 lead after 12 minutes of action. The Hornets shot 55.0 percent (11-of-20) from the field and 66.7 percent (4-of-6) from beyond the arc while forcing five Bulls turnovers in the frame to take the early lead.
Chicago refused to fold on its home court however, battling all the way back to take a 67-65 lead midway through the third. The two teams would watch the lead change hands multiple times leading up the final minutes of regulation. Trailing 95-93, Walker missed three good looks – a jumper from the right side, a three from the top of the key and a drive to the front of the rack – and with each miss, it was MKG there to grab offensive rebound. Kidd-Gilchrist was fouled after grabbing the third offensive board and hit 1-of-2 free throws with 1:13 left to cut the lead to 95-94. Tenacious defense on the ensuing possession allowed Charlotte to force a 24-second violation and give them to chance to take the lead back.
Nicolas Batum was off target for the Hornets on what would have been a go-ahead bucket but Roy Hibbert was there for yet another Charlotte offensive rebound and was fouled with 37.1 ticks left. Hibbert hit both free throws to put the Hornets ahead, 96-95, then got in the action on the defensive end, recording his third block of the night, this time on Doug McDermott. Batum was then there to grab Jerian Grant’s miss with 17.1 seconds on the clock.
Batum dropped both freebies but Grant made amends on Chicago’s next possession, hitting a stepback three over Kaminsky with 10.9 left to tie it, 98-98. The Hornets had a chance to win it in regulation on Walker’s drive down the left side but Paul Zipser was able to recover and get the block leading to OT.
While the Hornets didn’t win the game in the last two minutes of the fourth quarter, the showcased the potential this team can have when it plays together fueled by an immeasurable will to win. Walker didn’t hesitate to take the big shot – more than once.
Kidd-Gilchrist outworked everyone on the offensive glass – more than once. Hibbert was there to grab a key rebound and follow it up with a crucial block, just as Charlotte’s front office hoped he would be when they signed him this offseason. Sure, the win was great, but it was these two stretches of play, early and late, that showed the Hornets are getting closer to being ready for Opening Night.
Charlotte’s bench locked down the win behind four points apiece from Aaron Harrison and Mike Tobey in the extra session and the Hornets leave Chicago feeling more confident about how this new-look Hornets team is coming together as the 2016-17 season draws near.
Notes: Cody Zeller (knee), Brian Roberts (hamstring). Treveon Graham (foot) and Perry Ellis (Perry Ellis) all missed the game for Charlotte… Marvin Williams sprained his left middle finger late in the first half and did not return in the second half. Frank Kaminsky started the second half in his place… Roy Hibbert (11) and Nicolas Batum (10) also scored in double digits for the Hornets.
