The Charlotte Hornets are gearing up for a crucial matchup against the San Antonio Spurs on Friday night as they aim to salvage something positive from their long homestand. The Hornets have struggled recently, dropping six straight games, including a 112-102 loss to the Milwaukee Bucks on Wednesday.
Hornets’ Recent Performance:
The Hornets have been in a transition period, with the recent trade of center Mark Williams to the Los Angeles Lakers for guard Dalton Knecht and forward Cam Reddish, along with a 2031 unprotected first-round draft pick and a swap of 2030 first-round picks. Additionally, they acquired center Jusuf Nurkic and a 2026 first-round pick from the Phoenix Suns for Cody Martin, Vasilije Micic, and a 2026 second-round pick. It remains uncertain if the newcomers will be available for Friday night’s game.
Key Players:
- LaMelo Ball: The Hornets’ leading scorer, averaging 28.2 points, 7.3 assists, and 5.3 rebounds per game, is listed as questionable due to an ankle injury.
- Tidjane Salaun: Recently returned from an illness and spent time in the G League, he played on Wednesday for the first time in nearly three weeks.
Spurs’ Recent Performance:
The Spurs are excited to see how things develop around their newly acquired star guard, De’Aaron Fox, who joined the team earlier this week after a trade from the Sacramento Kings. The Spurs snapped a two-game slide with a 126-125 win at Atlanta on Wednesday night, with Fox sharing team scoring honors with 24 points and a game-high 13 assists. Victor Wembanyama also shone, scoring 24 points and adding 12 rebounds, making the decisive free throw.
Key Players:
- De’Aaron Fox: Averaging 25 points and 6.3 assists per game.
- Victor Wembanyama: Averaging 24.6 points, 10.9 rebounds, and 3.9 blocks per game.
Matchup History:
This game will mark the first meeting of the season between the Hornets and the Spurs. The Hornets are 1-7 during their current nine-game homestand, while the Spurs are looking to build on their recent win and continue their positive momentum.
