CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Terry Rozier pointed into the western side of the Spectrum Center stands and then to the floor as if to remind everyone.
Rozier had just thrown down a right-handed, fast break dunk, bringing most of the 19,287 patrons in the sellout crowd to its feet in a way they hadn’t risen since hearing rapper Petey Pablo, North Carolina’s own, rock the microphone at halftime. Rozier pulled the Charlotte Hornets within two, giving them a fighter’s chance to knock off impressive New Orleans.
Even without the services of LaMelo Ball for a second straight game, they hung with the Pelicans for the better part of three quarters. But New Orleans held firm on its grip and spoiled the Hornets’ home opener, sending them to a 124-112 loss.
Rozier’s near triple double — 23 points, career-high tying 11 assists and eight rebounds — wasn’t quite enough to lift the Hornets to their second win in three days.
Here’s what we learned in the Hornets’ first loss of the season:
Inside issues
It wasn’t the best of nights on the interior for the Hornets.
Closing out possessions was a serious problem and they had glaring issues against New Orleans, which boasts a huge front line. The Pelicans pounded the Hornets in the paint to the tune of 62 points. They also clobbered Charlotte on the offensive glass, snatching 15 offensive rebounds.
By not corralling New Orleans down low, it gave the Pelicans way too many easy opportunities. They didn’t have to work overly hard for a bulk of their buckets and that made it a challenge for the Hornets to match that firepower offensively.
Gordon stays hot
Say this about Gordon Hayward through two games: He’s knocked off the rust.
Despite playing in just one meaningful outing in six months, the veteran has looked pretty good to begin his third season with the Hornets. On the heels of his 20-point, five-rebound, two-assist performance in San Antonio two nights earlier, Hayward totaled xx points to go with xx and helped them hang around.
Perhaps the most encouraging thing of all — besides his health — is Hayward isn’t simply settling for jump shots. He was effective in the midrange and also aggressive going into the paint. With LaMelo Ball out, the Hornets need others to create offense and be playmakers and Hayward is doing his part in that department so far.
“He’s just such a good player in every phase of the game,” Clifford said. “Gordon is an All-Star caliber when he’s healthy and from what I’m told this is the healthiest he’s been. He’s in a great place mentally. But he’s just a good, smart, old school basketball player, and he can do everything. He’s very good defensively. He’s a terrific decision maker. He can score in a lot of different ways. He can play without the ball, he can play in the pick-and-roll. He’s a very, very good player.”
No Cody
Once again, the Hornets didn’t have one of their top defenders available. And it’s unclear when that is going to change.
Cody Martin spent the evening in street clothes, sitting out with left quad soreness. He got injured in the first quarter against the Spurs and logged only 56 seconds before exiting and not returning.
Martin missed all but one of the Hornets’ five preseason games, in part to ensure the left knee tendiopathy he was experiencing didn’t flare back up. But something didn’t feel right for Martin against the Spurs and the Hornets apparently aren’t planning on rushing him back too quickly.
“Hopefully, it’s not anything that’s going to linger,” Clifford said. “When he first went in the game — and I hadn’t seen it until the tape but Joe Sharpe saw it — but he kind of stumbled and his knee bent, the one that he’s had issues with. So it flared back up and so obviously we need to be careful with this. They had done a great job getting him back.
“He’s, to me, a critical, critical player on our team and we need what he brings, But the priority right now is just to get him healthy.”
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