The Charlotte Hornets have been in three tight games in a promising sign for a team trying to elevate its stock this season.
Finding the necessary finishing kick is the next step for the Hornets, and they will try again when they host the Toronto Raptors on Wednesday night.
“It’s a great group that is continuing to learn and grow,” Hornets coach Charles Lee said. “We just had three great games that were close-game situations that we can learn from. That’s what we’ve talked a ton about to our team. We’ll continue to study, to learn, to grow.”
The Raptors and Hornets have each won one game this season.
The Raptors lost 127-125 in overtime to the visiting Denver Nuggets on Monday night. Scottie Barnes had 21 points for Toronto and RJ Barrett posted 20.
“I don’t believe in moral victories,” Raptors coach Darko Rajakovic said. “I believe in winning. I thought we competed the right way and we gave it all we had. … Through games like this, we’re going to get better.”
The Hornets haven’t played since Saturday night’s 114-106 home loss to the Miami Heat, when the Hornets’ LaMelo Ball scored 27 points. Ball has averaged 31.7 points in three games.
Charlotte’s offense has gone through stages of low productivity during the opening week of the season. The Hornets had a 16-point first quarter in a loss to the Atlanta Hawks on Friday and were down 14 points in the third quarter of Saturday’s defeat.
Charlotte is averaging the fourth-most-made 2-pointers per game (16.3) in the NBA and the fourth-most attempts (43.7).
“I think it takes a little bit of time to figure out what that defensive scheme looks like on the other side,” Lee said.
One area that needs to be addressed is ball handling after the Hornets were charged with 20 turnovers against the Heat. Some of that might relate to physical play.
“About 50-50 — a little unforced, a little forced,” Lee said. “In transition, we can execute a little better and not be loose with the ball. There is some valuing of the ball of possessions, valuing of the ball, executing a little bit at a higher level that needs to happen just going forward.”
Toronto was just 10-for-35 (28.6 percent) in the setback to Denver. The Raptors are tied for the second-fewest average 3-pointers made in a game at 9.5 and the second-lowest number of shots from distance at 29.5.
Showing high intensity is how Rajakovic views part of the winning formula for the Raptors.
“We need to be this type of team and be disruptive and making it hard on our opponents,” Rajakovic said.
Rookie Tidjane Salaun made his debut for Charlotte against Miami. He was scoreless in nine minutes off the bench, but Lee said he looked more comfortable during his second stint on the court. Salaun, the No. 6 overall pick in this year’s draft, out of France, attempted only one shot.
“He does a great job of letting it fly when he’s open,” Lee said. “He’s definitely not shy. We need his fearlessness and competitiveness.”
This will be the second home game for the Hornets this season and the second road assignment for Toronto, with both teams seeking their first victory in those situations.
