Hornets at Spurs
The Charlotte Hornets topped out at 94 points in dropping each of their first three games but exploded on offense in winning the last two. The Hornets will try to even their record with a third straight triumph when they visit the San Antonio Spurs on Saturday.
Charlotte dominated Chicago in a 130-105 home win on Tuesday and began its road trip by posting a 108-94 triumph at the Dallas Mavericks on Thursday. Seven players scored in double figures in the win over Chicago but Al Jefferson did the bulk of the work in Dallas, tallying 31 points on 15-of-18 shooting to go with nine rebounds. Jefferson will face a stiffer defensive test from the likes of Tim Duncan and LaMarcus Aldridge of the Spurs, who are trying to recover after falling on a last-second 3-pointer on Wednesday. Duncan and Aldridge are still trying to get the hang of playing together and letting small forward Kawhi Leonard take over at the offensive end.
TV: 8:30 p.m. ET, FSN Southeast (Charlotte), FSN Southwest (San Antonio)
ABOUT THE HORNETS (2-3): Charlotte decided to go to Jefferson heavily in the second half on Thursday and the veteran center did not disappoint, going 6-of-6 from the field in the third quarter before closing the game out with some slow-down possessions in the post. Cameras caught Jefferson and coach Steve Clifford engaged in a disagreement on the sidelines in the fourth quarter, but all appeared well after the team had a second consecutive win in hand. Jefferson is a combined 22-of-30 from the field in the Hornets’ two wins.
ABOUT THE SPURS (3-2): Aldridge averages 19.4 points on 48.4 percent shooting for his career but is down to 14.8 points on 41.4 percent in his first five games with the San Antonio. “Everybody is trying to think the game,” Duncan told reporters. “They’re trying to think the right way, they’re trying to make the right decision every time, and when you’re thinking too much, your normal reaction comes secondary. That pause and that hesitation takes something away from your game. We just have to get through that.” Aldridge and Duncan combined for nine of the team’s 21 turnovers in Wednesday’s 102-99 setback.
BUZZER BEATERS
1. Hornets F Marvin Williams recorded double-digit rebounds in four of the first five games.
2. Spurs G Danny Green is shooting 20 percent from 3-percent range.
3. San Antonio has taken nine straight in the series.