While the NBA’s marquee teams took center stage on Christmas Day, the Washington Wizards and the Charlotte Hornets, who have 11 wins between them, will meet on Thursday night in Washington for a Southeast Division showdown.
Charlotte enters the game on a five-game losing streak, having lost 13 of their last 14 games, including a 114-101 defeat to the Houston Rockets on Monday. Washington has lost five of their last six games, with the latest being a 123-105 drubbing by the Oklahoma City Thunder on Monday. Despite their struggles, the four-win Wizards have split their past four home games, while the Hornets are 2-11 on the road this season.
In their loss to Houston, Charlotte struggled mightily, shooting just 1-for-11 from 3-point range and scoring only 15 points in the first quarter. They trailed 62-31 at halftime and faced boos from the home crowd. The Hornets fell behind by as many as 34 points early in the third quarter before the Rockets eased up. Miles Bridges led Charlotte with 24 points and eight rebounds, while LaMelo Ball added 23 points and eight assists. Mark Williams chipped in with 12 points and nine rebounds.
The Hornets started the season 4-5 but have only managed three wins since, leading to a players-only meeting after their latest loss.
Meanwhile, the undermanned Wizards stayed close in Oklahoma City before the Thunder pulled away late. Washington was missing key players Bilal Coulibaly (groin), Alex Sarr (back), and Kyle Kuzma (ribs) due to injury and lost Marvin Bagley III to a knee injury during the game. The Wizards made 16 of their first 32 3-point attempts but missed their last 11, allowing Oklahoma City to outscore them 32-18 in the final quarter.
Jordan Poole shone for Washington with 31 points, including 5-of-12 from 3-point range, marking his fourth 30-plus point game of the season. Carlton Carrington added 14 points, including 4-of-8 from beyond the arc, while Jonas Valanciunas had 12 points and a game-high 16 rebounds, his eighth double-double of the season. However, 19 Wizards turnovers led to 24 points for the Thunder.
Both teams are looking to turn their seasons around and secure a much-needed win. Will the Wizards manage to leverage their home-court advantage, or will the Hornets break their losing streak? This clash promises to be an intriguing battle between two struggling teams.
