Hornets Blown Out by 76ers

Down six important players, the Hornets were unable to keep up with the 76ers.

On the second night of a home back-to-back, the Charlotte Hornets struggled mightily against the Philadelphia 76ers. In a game where six rotation players were out due to injury, the Hornets had a night they will likely hope to soon forget. 

Charlotte fought hard, but in being severely undermanned had a difficult time keeping up with one of the top teams in the East. The 76ers took a big lead early and essentially never looked back, winning 135-82.  

Best of the night:

Bryce McGowens was a bright spot for the Hornets. Earning the start in place of the injured Gordon Hayward, McGowens shot 50% from the floor and put up 12 points as the starting small forward. 

Worst of the night:

It was an all-around difficult evening for the Hornets. A big 76ers lead only grew larger as the game went on, ballooning to as many as 53. Charlotte looked totally defeated and struggled to put together any consistent offense against Philadelphia's stout defensive core. 

The Hornets also suffered some further injuries during this game on top of the ones they came into the contest with. Terry Rozier and Ish Smith both took shots to the face during the second half and were forced to head to the locker room. 

Stat of the night: 

The 53-point loss marked the worst point differential loss in the regular season or postseason in Hornets history. 

Highlight of the night: 

In the third quarter, Brandon Miller flew down the lane and finished this athletic dunk. 

We see you rook! 🔥 @brandmillerr | @hornets pic.twitter.com/GkaygUDb4h

— Bally Sports: Hornets (@HornetsOnBally) December 17, 2023

The Hornets will return to action on Monday night when they travel to Toronto to take on the Raptors at 7:30 PM ET. 

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