Hornets at Wizards
The Charlotte Hornets have put an eight-game losing streak behind them and look to win back-to-back games for the first time in 3 1/2 weeks when they visit the Washington Wizards on Thursday. The Hornets recorded a 97-92 home win over the New York Knicks on Tuesday to end a slide that included five double-digit losses.
Charlotte recovered from a 13-point, second-quarter deficit to rally past the Knicks en route to its first win since Jan. 4. "It's been a rough couple weeks for many reasons but give our guys credit," Hornets coach James Borrego said afterward. "... We did not get off to a great start but we hung in there and showed some resiliency and togetherness and competed. We fought and got a good win for us." The Wizards have lost six of their past eight games and the last two have been particularly distressing as they allowed more than 150 points in each. Washington fell 152-133 to the Atlanta Hawks on Sunday and then was routed 151-131 by Milwaukee even though reigning MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo (shoulder) sat out for the Bucks.
TIME: 7 p.m. ET. TV: FS Southeast, NBCS Washington
ABOUT THE HORNETS (16-31): Point guard Terry Rozier stood out in the win over New York with 30 points and 10 rebounds, marking the first 30-point, 10-board effort of his career. It marked the eighth time this month Rozier has scored 20 or more points and he was 9-of-17 shooting in a game in which Charlotte made just 38.6 percent of its shots. "Obviously, we want to shoot better than 38 percent," Borrego said. "Most nights, that’s going to be tough to win an NBA game. To gut it out and make those winning-type plays to get you through a game is impressive. There were a lot of hustle plays going on out there – 50-50 balls, offensive rebounds, loose balls, tipped balls. We just found a way to win, bottom line.”
ABOUT THE WIZARDS (15-31): Star shooting guard Bradley Beal has back-to-back 40-point efforts, including a season-high 47 against Milwaukee, but he couldn't find much joy in the performance. Washington allowed a staggering 88 points in the first half - 42 points in the opening quarter, 46 in the second - and was powerless to slow the Bucks. "We didn't show any resistance early in the game," Beal told reporters. "Then in the second half we were a totally different team. We got aggressive. We were physical on defense. We were physical on offense, attacking."
BUZZER BEATERS
1. The Hornets have won seven of the past 10 meetings, including a split of two matchups this season.
2. Washington C Thomas Bryant recorded 18 points and 10 rebounds against Milwaukee for his sixth double-double of the season.
3. Charlotte PF PJ Washington is 2-of-14 shooting while averaging three points over the past two games.