NBA: Rising Hornets take aim at Grizzlies, who continue to blow leads

The Charlotte Hornets keep making statements this season.

When they visit the Memphis Grizzlies on Wednesday, the Hornets will be coming off another dominant victory—a 130-93 rout of the Philadelphia 76ers.

Earlier this season, Charlotte recorded impressive road blowouts against the defending champion Oklahoma City Thunder and the Los Angeles Lakers. The team also beat the Utah Jazz by 55 points, marking the largest road win margin in franchise history.

Monday’s 37-point victory over Philadelphia was no exception. At one point, the Hornets led by 50 points, snapping an 11-game losing streak to the 76ers. The blowout marked the team’s sixth win this season by 25 or more points, setting a new franchise record.

The success comes after a rough start to the season, where Charlotte went 4-13. Now, the Hornets are riding a wave of momentum as they pursue the team’s first playoff appearance in 10 years.

Guard Collin Sexton said the team understands the importance of staying grounded.

“Stay hungry, stay in the moment, and focus on one game at a time,” Sexton said. “We have to continue to stay disciplined. Teams will make runs, and we can’t let those runs affect us as a group.”

Monday’s win was Charlotte’s 19th of the season, matching their total victories from last year.

“We’ve been a really resilient group all year,” Hornets coach Charles Lee said. “Whether it’s injuries, tough plays, or an opponent’s hot streak, we just respond every time.”

The Hornets have handled unexpected challenges well, including Monday’s home game being moved up four hours to a 3 p.m. ET start due to weather.

“Little things like that don’t affect us,” Sexton said. “At the end of the day, you have to adapt and execute. Every game counts, and right now, we need wins.”

Guard Brandon Miller has been a key part of Charlotte’s surge, scoring 20 or more points in seven straight games, including 30 against the 76ers on Monday. Rookie Kon Knueppel is also making an impact, averaging 18.7 points and shooting 42.2% from three-point range.

Memphis, meanwhile, lost 108-99 at Houston on Monday and has struggled with injuries all season, including multiple absences by star guard Ja Morant. Morant, who has been linked to trade talks ahead of the Feb. 5 trade deadline, is expected to miss at least three weeks with a left elbow injury.

Despite holding double-digit leads in each of their past seven games, the Grizzlies have won only two. Against Houston, Memphis led by 10 points before falling.

“I don’t know what sparked it,” Grizzlies coach Tuomas Iisalo said of Houston’s comeback. “They’re a very good team. I was proud of how we handled most of the game, especially 21 offensive rebounds against one of the most physical teams in the league.”

This season, Memphis has lost 12 games after holding double-digit leads.

—Field Level Media/Reuters