Charlotte Hornets: Swarming the Knicks despite Injuries
The Charlotte Hornets got a big lift from their starting back court in order to defeat the New York Knicks at home.
So how do the Charlotte Hornets beat the New York Knicks on a night where they are missing Nicolas Batum, Al Jefferson, Jeremy Lamb, and Cody Zeller? It is simple really, they make their free throws. Thirty-two of thirty-seven of them. As a result they win 97-84 over a team with Carmelo Anthony and rookie Kristaps Porzingis.
Okay, so it is a little more complicated than that. The Hornets got a combined fifty-two points from the two headed point guard combination of Kemba Walker and Jeremy Lin. Both scored twenty-six although they impacted different parts of the game.
Lin, facing one of his former teams, scored early. Unlike some of the other Hornets games this season, the dirty work was not done at the three point line. Lin scored ten of his points at the foul line and the team need every one of them.
Walker compounded the Knicks problem by again finding his scoring touch later in the game. He also found his way to the charity stripe where he knocked down nine free throws as part of his compliment of points.
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The surprise was the play of P.J. Hairston. Hairston had been started most games this season as the surrogate for the still recovering Michael Kidd-Gilchrist. With his shooting, it was hoped he would become something of a three and D guy that seems to be in vogue around the league right now. Yet his offensive output has always been underwhelming.
Last night Hairston was able to score twenty points and add ten rebounds in what has to be his most complete performance of the season. He shot 50% from the field. Again the Hornets needed the lift because of the absence of so many others. Troy Daniels did something similar last game.
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While Spencer Hawes and Marvin Williams did not contribute much offense, they did join Hairston with double digit rebounds apiece.
The Charlotte Hornets climbed up another small peg toward relevance with a victory over another team currently ahead of them in the playoff race. It was a good feeling for fans as they get ready for today’s NFC Championship Game.
The Hornets themselves are back in action on January 25 in Sacramento to play the Kings.