Hornets Hold Off Bucks in Tight Contest
The Charlotte Hornets kept their place in the playoff hunt with a 73-58 win over the Milwaukee Bucks on Sunday night. The result means Charlotte stay in ninth spot, while the visitors drop further behind in eleventh. The Hornets had been given the edge at 57 per cent confidence before tip-off, and they backed that up by controlling the tempo from the opening period.
Shooting efficiency decided the outcome. Charlotte hit 39 of their 92 field goals and 17 of 51 three-pointers, while Milwaukee managed 32 from 89 attempts and 15 from 46 attempts. The home side also out-rebounded their opponents 54 to 48, with 18 offensive boards giving them second-chance opportunities. By then the gap had grown to 24 points at its widest, and Milwaukee could only muster a nine-point lead of their own.
The visitors had beaten Charlotte 110-91 earlier in the season, but this time the Hornets sat deep and soaked it up. They scored 20 points off fast breaks compared to Milwaukee's 15, while the Bucks managed 18 points off turnovers against just 15 for Charlotte. The difference in energy was visible throughout — Charlotte played the second half a man up in terms of pace, and the visitors never found their rhythm.
Defensively, Charlotte recorded five blocks and five steals, while Milwaukee managed eight blocks and ten steals. The visitors' extra steals did not translate into victory — their 15 turnovers cost them dearly, as did their inability to convert in the paint. Charlotte scored 40 points inside compared to Milwaukee's 34, and the home side's 24 second-chance points showed their persistence on the glass.
The Hornets' record now stands at 44 wins and 38 losses, while Milwaukee sit on 32 wins and 50 defeats. The loss extends a difficult run for the visitors, who have not won since their last outing against Oklahoma City. Charlotte, meanwhile, kept their push alive and will look to build on this performance as the season progresses.
