The Charlotte Hornets have been involved in three close games, a promising sign for a team looking to improve this season. They aim to find that necessary finishing touch when they host the Toronto Raptors on Wednesday night.
Both the Raptors and the Hornets have one win each this season. The Raptors narrowly lost 127-125 in overtime to the visiting Denver Nuggets on Monday night, with Scottie Barnes scoring 21 points and RJ Barrett adding 20. The Hornets haven’t played since their 114-106 home loss to the Miami Heat on Saturday, a game in which LaMelo Ball scored 27 points and has averaged 31.7 points over three games.
Charlotte’s offense has seen ups and downs in the opening week. They scored just 16 points in the first quarter against the Atlanta Hawks on Friday and were down by 14 points in the third quarter against the Heat. The Hornets rank fourth in the NBA in both made and attempted two-pointers per game. However, ball handling remains an issue, as they committed 20 turnovers against Miami, partly due to physical play.
The Raptors struggled from beyond the arc, shooting just 28.6% against Denver. They are tied for the second-fewest made three-pointers per game and the second-lowest number of attempts. Coach Rajakovic emphasizes high intensity as part of the Raptors’ winning strategy.
Rookie Tidjane Salaun made his debut for Charlotte against Miami, going scoreless in nine minutes off the bench. Salaun, the No. 6 overall pick from France, looked more comfortable during his second stint on the court.
This will be the second home game for the Hornets this season and the second road assignment for Toronto, with both teams seeking their first victory in these respective situations.
