Cody Zeller Finds Nuggets in a Mismatch
The Charlotte Hornets went into Denver looking for a win. They found one in one of the strangest games you will ever see. The final score was 104-86, and the game was in hand long before that final score was posted. There were contributions from everywhere, which was great considering that Kemba Walker is still hurt.
73. 104. 170. Final. 86
Denver was not in great shape either. Kenneth Faried and Darrell Arthur did not play because of injuries, and that left the Nuggets short on the front line. Coach Brian Shaw decided to accommodate this problem by sticking 6-10 wing Danilo Galinari down in the block to guard the power forward.
More from Charlotte Hornets
- Charlotte Hornets: Return would have provided valuable experience
- Charlotte Hornets: Regrading the 2010 NBA Draft
- Charlotte Hornets win what could be final game of the season
- Charlotte Hornets: Tank now or buzz towards the playoffs?
- Charlotte Hornets travel to face Pistons with focus on the future
That was essentially a gauntlet thrown down to Cody Zeller, the man who faced Galinari. The Codysaurus responded with an offensive explosion and a game that finally lived up to the nickname. Zeller was good for 21 points on 10-11 shooting. He added eight boards to his production.
The Cody Zeller experience was good enough, but the success at the power forward position trickled down to his backup, Jason Maxiell. Maxiell scored fourteen points in twenty minutes of action. Maxiell added four blocks on defense and seven rebounds.
The story at power forward was not finished as rookie Noah Vonleh came in for the garbage minutes for ten more points and seven more rebounds.
Live Feed
FanSided
The Hornets got a complete performance from Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, who put in seventeen points and thirteen rebounds. Big Al Jefferson dropped in fourteen points and seven rebounds. Gary Neal chipped in with ten points.
The really strange stat line was Lance Stephenson. Stephenson only shot 2-10 from the field, which seems like par for the course. However, Stephenson was responsible for thirteen assists in the game. Stephenson took some ownership to playmaking, and the Nuggets’ weakness was well documented here.
I feel that this game was an aberration, but it is encouraging to see the Hornets put their foot down on a defeated foe instead of letting a foe back into it.