All Hornets

Hornets blow double-digit halftime lead in Detroit, dropping ninth straight game

The Charlotte Hornets fall to 7-26 on the season.

Schuyler Callihan

Rick Osentoski-Imagn Images
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Another game, another loss is in the books for the Charlotte Hornets. Friday night, the Bugs fell to the Detroit Pistons, 98-94, dropping their record to 7-26 on the season.

Best of the night: Mark Williams

Every time the Hornets and Pistons link up, everyone's eyes will be on the matchup underneath between Mark Williams and Jalen Duren, assuming Williams is healthy. The Hornets drafted Duren but traded him to Detroit on draft night, opening the door for Williams to be their center of the future. This was a pretty even bout, but Williams did a lot to help keep the Hornets in the game. He finished the night with 18 points and nine boards.

Worst of the night: Blowing the halftime lead

Seeing a double-digit halftime lead erased in the NBA isn't all that rare, but for a team like the Hornets, they have to keep their foot on the pedal for 48 minutes. They scored a grand total of 39 points in the second half and only 12 in the fourth quarter. That's one point per minute, folks. That's not going to cut it. This team's confidence is completely dashed, and you can see it on their face as the Pistons made their run.

Stat of the night: Free throw mishaps

Charlotte doesn't get to the line nearly enough on a nightly basis, but last night, they did. The Hornets attempted 30 free throws but only converted 19 of them. As poor as this team is shooting the three-ball, they need to cash in at the charity stripe. Leaving that many points on the table cost them the game.

Highlight of the night:

Next up

Things don't get any easier for the reeling Hornets as they'll take on the best team in the association, the Cleveland Cavaliers, on Sunday at 6 p.m. EST.

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Published
Schuyler Callihan
SCHUYLER CALLIHAN

schuylercallihan(at)gmail.comΒ  Twitter:@Callihan_ Schuyler Callihan is the lead publisher of Mountaineers Now, All Panthers, and All Hornets on FanNation/Sports Illustrated. He took over publishing duties of All Panthers in 2020 and wanted to expand his professional coverage in the Queen City by running the operations at All Hornets. Schuyler attended Bethany College in Bethany, West Virginia before finishing up his schooling at Alamance Community College in Graham, North Carolina. The Wheeling, West Virginia native made the move to North Carolina in 2015 and has been in Charlotte since 2021.

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