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Key Takeaways
- The Charlotte Hornets are returning home to face the Toronto Raptors after a successful road trip, where they won consecutive games, including a 124-97 victory over the Oklahoma City Thunder.
- The Hornets’ coach, Charles Lee, attributes the team’s success to their daily process, preparation, and physical and mental standpoint.
- The Raptors are looking to make amends against the Hornets, who won two previous meetings, and are focused on one game at a time, according to coach Darko Rajakovic.
- Brandon Ingram has led the Raptors in scoring for the past three games and is returning to his home state for Wednesday’s game.
- The Hornets’ Brandon Miller had a notable performance against the Thunder, scoring 28 points, including 7-for-10 on 3-pointers.
Introduction to the Matchup
The Charlotte Hornets are feeling refreshed and revived after their recent travels, and they return home to face the Toronto Raptors on Wednesday. Charlotte is 6-5 in its last 11 games, with no victory bigger than the one they pulled off over the defending champions, the Oklahoma City Thunder, on Monday. As Hornets coach Charles Lee stated, "I think it just continues to show them our daily process, our preparation, everything they are doing from a physical and mental standpoint is obviously helping them come game time." The Hornets earned consecutive victories to close a three-game road trip across four days, showcasing their strength and resilience.
Hornets’ Recent Performance
The Hornets’ recent performance has been impressive, with their 124-97 victory over the Thunder being a highlight. The Thunder still hold the best record in the NBA at 30-7, making the Hornets’ win even more significant. As coach Lee mentioned, the team’s daily process and preparation have been key to their success. The Hornets had six players score in double figures, with Brandon Miller’s 28 points being a notable contribution. Miller shot 7-for-10 on 3-pointers, while Kon Knueppel’s five 3s, and LaMelo Ball’s four, contributed to the team’s 19-for-37 shooting (51.1%) from long range.
Raptors’ Recent Performance
The Raptors ran past the visiting Atlanta Hawks 118-100 on Monday night for their second victory over the Hawks across a three-day period. Toronto will be looking to make amends against the Hornets, who won two previous meetings, the first in overtime on Nov. 29 and the second on Dec. 5. As coach Darko Rajakovic stated, "It’s focusing on one game at a time. We just go to look at the test that is at hand and focus." The Raptors have received a boost from rookie Collin Murray-Boyles, who notched 17 points on 8-of-10 shooting Monday. Brandon Ingram has led the Raptors in scoring for the past three games and is returning to his home state for Wednesday’s game.
Players to Watch
Brandon Ingram has been a key player for the Raptors, leading the team in scoring for the past three games. He is returning to his home state for Wednesday’s game, although he had only seven points on 3-of-13 shooting in 29 minutes during last month’s visit to Charlotte. Ingram is 9 of 14 (64.3%) on 3-pointers over the last three games combined after a two-game stretch at 0 of 14 from beyond the arc. On the other hand, the Hornets’ Brandon Miller had a notable performance against the Thunder, scoring 28 points, including 7-for-10 on 3-pointers. Miller said it was a collective effort on offense that allowed him to find a groove, stating, "I think (my teammates) trust me enough to take shots like that. I take them — I make them sometimes, I miss them sometimes. I’m not perfect, but my teammates are going to keep trusting me to take those shots."
Conclusion
The matchup between the Hornets and the Raptors promises to be an exciting one, with both teams looking to build on their recent successes. The Hornets’ coach, Charles Lee, is confident in his team’s ability, stating, "We can be an elite offensive group. We play with the pass, and we play fast. That’s what we’ve been doing for the past half-month, and we want to keep it going." The Raptors, on the other hand, are focused on one game at a time, according to coach Darko Rajakovic. With key players like Brandon Ingram and Brandon Miller leading the charge, this game is sure to be a thrilling encounter.
https://www.cbssports.com/nba/news/hornets-look-to-build-on-win-over-champs-welcome-raptors/