Tonight, the Charlotte Hornets (18-58) faced the Portland Trail Blazers (20-56) in Charlotte. The game was an up-and-down one for both teams. Portland ended up winning 89-86. There were many points in the fourth quarter where the teams were tied. This was a very even match-up, but in the end, Portland prevailed.
Neither of these teams are making the playoffs. The Trail Blazers are sitting 14th in the West, while the Hornets are sitting 13th in the East. This game snapped a ten game losing streak for Portland and has put the Hornet’s losing streak to four.
Charlotte Hornets Couldn’t Score
The Charlotte Hornets’ top scorer in this game was Brandon Miller, who scored 21 points. No other Hornets player cracked 15. The team was missing LaMelo Ball and Miles Bridges, who do a lot of the heavy lifting on offense. The Hornet’s bench and those who stepped up for the missing starters could not seem to get it together in this game.
This team has been facing tough injuries all season. One would think they would find a groove within their bench by now. Getting rid of Terry Rozier and PJ Washington clearly had a negative effect on the team. With only 18 wins on the season, the Hornets should look towards a rebuild.
Scoot Henderson Comes Out Hot
Portland Trail Blazers guard Scoot Henderson has been under a lot of scrutiny this season. He has been struggling to find his groove in the NBA. This is his first season in the league, but Henderson was the third pick in the draft and expected to do better. However, tonight against the Hornets, he played solid ball, getting 22 points, 10 assists, and 1 rebound.
Deandre Ayton and Jabari Walker also performed well for Portland. Ayton came out with 24 points, 2 assists, and 16 rebounds. Jabari Walker had 14 points, 2 assists, and 22 rebounds. This duo and Scoot Henderson led a team missing their two top scorers to a hard-fought and well-deserved win.
Can the Portland Trail Blazers do Some Damage?
The Portland Trail Blazers are going to have a tough end to their season. After they face a struggling Washington Wizards, they will be playing teams who all sit in play-in or playoff positions. Portland may not be able to make the playoffs this year, but they could shake up the standings.
One of the teams Portland will face soon is the Golden State Warriors. The Warriors have yet to clinch their play-in spot at number 10. They could lose this spot to the Houston Rockets if they lose their last few games. The Portland Trail Blazers could go out with a bang this season and keep Steph Curry and the Warriors out of the tournament.
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Elizabeth is an avid watcher of all things sports. However, the Boston sports teams will always be her number one. Follow her on X @edellapiana1 .
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