Hornets Struggle to Score in Road Loss to Bulls
In their fifth game this season where they scored 100 points or less, the Charlotte Hornets came up just short against the Chicago Bulls at United Center.
Heading into the fourth quarter, Charlotte had put up just 64 points on the scoreboard. There were some solid individual performances, but the Hornets struggled to keep pace with the Bulls for most of this one.
Much of their struggles were rooted in three-point shooting. Charlotte hit just 27% of their three-point shots, while allowing Chicago to nail 48% of their shots from behind the arc.
The Bulls also got to the line at a significantly higher rate than the Hornets, attempting 17 more free throws than the visiting team. Despite this discrepancy, Charlotte made a few valiant pushes to cut into Chicago's lead.
But in the end, the Bulls would pull away in the second half and lead by as many as 22 before securing the win, 111-100.
Best of the night:
Gordon Hayward had a vintage performance on Wednesday night. Leading the Hornets with 27 points, Hayward showcased his entire offensive repertoire and scored in nearly every way possible.
Making 10 of his 18 shots while recording four assists, two steals and one block led even the Bulls announcers to note that Hayward looked like his 2017 self, when he earned his most recent All-Star appearance.
Worst of the night:
Without Mark Williams in the lineup, The Hornets were beaten badly on the boards. They pulled down just 42 rebounds compared to the Bulls' 57.
Stat of the night:
Charlotte lost by double digits despite shooting a higher overall percentage from the field than Chicago. The Bulls shot just 42%, while the Hornets finished the game shooting 43%.
Highlight of the night:
Two of Gordon Hayward's 27 points came in highlight fashion as he threw down a fast break dunk over Torrey Craig plus the foul.
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