The suspense will have been there at Brooklynsince we had to wait until the last minute to decide the winner, but ultimately it was the Nets which take over the Hornets (116-115) in this match which counted for the “ NBA Cup “.
Brandon Miller (29 points), Tre Mann (19 points, 6 assists) and even Tidjane Salaün (11 points, 8 rebounds, 2 blocks) shone, but Charlotte could not resist Cam Johnson (34 points), leader of the New York collective. However, Cam Thomas was absent…
LaMelo Ball “benched”!
Insolently successful, the Hornets begin by raining down a deluge of 3-pointers on the Nets, with Miles Bridges, Brandon Miller, LaMelo Ball and even the frenchie Tidjane Salaün. Their lead is already substantial after twelve minutes (37-23), despite Cam Johnson. The intensity and rhythm then fell somewhat, as did the skill, but a 17-4 from Brooklyn, driven by Johnson but also Dorian Finney-Smith, mainly reduced the gap. Only Miller then Ball are inspired to take on this Charlotte attack in great difficulty and which wastes a lot (59-54).
The break did not cool Cam Johnson, who continues to torment the Hornets defense and, in the wake of their shooter who even opens access to the circle, the Nets take the opportunity to take a nice lead. Fortunately, the pair Tre Mann – Tidjane Salaün does well off the bench and everything remains to be done in the score (87-85). The meeting then gets carried away, the snipers draw, Ben Simmons puts himself in evidence on both sides and Johnson responds as much as possible to Brandon Miller. Finally, Brooklyn held on, without panicking, and it was the surprising Trendon Watford who finished off Charlotte with his baskets near the circle (116-115).
Note the absence of LaMelo Ball from the field in the last four minutes, even though he is one of the five players who have scored the most in “money time” this season…
TO REMEMBER
– Brooklyn ripped off (thanks Cam Johnson). The Nets were hot, because it was close for Brandon Miller to equalize at 116 all, but they managed to surprise the Hornets, who were nevertheless at +17 in the first quarter. If Jordi Fernandez's players appealed collectively, the hero of the evening was called Cam Johnson, untenable from start to finish, at 3-points then closer to the circle, when things were not going well. Special mentions, too, to Dennis Schröder and Trendon Watford for being able to wrap things up at the end, and to Dorian Finney-Smith, Jalen Wilson and Ben Simmons for their great sequences on both sides.
– Too many mistakes in Charlotte. If the Hornets want to consider “play-in” at the end of the season, they will have to start by avoiding losing this type of match against opponents within their reach. Weighed down by their ball losses, and not helped by a LaMelo Ball next to his pumps, Charles Lee's men were punished over the minutes, because Cam Johnson and others did not fail to take advantage of these numerous gifts. Even if Brandon Miller, Miles Bridges and Tre Mann did everything to prevent this setback, frustrating but not undeserved, while the 3-point skill was there.
– Tidjane Salaün shows herself. If Moussa Diabaté did not have the same impact as recently in the game, it was his compatriot Tidjane Salaün who took the opportunity to shine last night. Aggressive in getting free throws (6/7) and confident in his shooting, the Frenchman quite simply had the best match of his young career, flirting with the “double-double”. Coming off the bench, his association with Tre Mann (who also put up a terrible poster…) did the Hornets good and we now hope that he capitalizes on this, to establish himself permanently in Charles' rotation Lee… who punished LaMelo Ball at the end.
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How to read the stats? Min = Minutes; Shots = Successful shots / Attempted shots; 3pts = 3-points / 3-points attempted; LF = free throws made / free throws attempted; O = offensive rebound; D=defensive rebound; T = Total rebounds; Pd = assists; Fte: Personal fouls; Int = Intercepts; Bp = Lost balls; Ct: Against; +/- = Point differential when the player is on the field; Pts = Points; Eval: player evaluation calculated from positive actions – negative actions.
