The Charlotte Hornets are heading into the All-Star break with something they haven’t had much of in recent seasons: momentum - and a little bit of swagger.
Their 110-107 win over the Atlanta Hawks wasn’t just another tally in the win column. It was a statement.
A message that even with adversity looming - namely, the four-game suspensions of starters Moussa Diabaté and Miles Bridges - this team isn’t backing down. In fact, they’re starting to define who they are.
From the opening tip, Charlotte looked like a team in control. The offense hummed with rhythm and purpose, the kind of flow that’s become more familiar since the new year began.
They pushed the pace, shared the ball, and got quality looks - and when Brandon Miller soared for a thunderous dunk over Onyeka Okongwu, it felt like a signature moment. A stamp of confidence from a young team that’s starting to believe in itself.
But this wasn’t a wire-to-wire cruise. Atlanta didn’t go quietly, storming back late and threatening to steal the game.
That’s where the Hornets showed something even more important than highlight plays: poise. They dug in defensively, made stops when it mattered, and executed down the stretch.
That’s winning basketball - the kind that travels, the kind that holds up in the postseason.
And that’s what makes this recent stretch so encouraging. Losing Diabaté and Bridges is no small blow.
Both are key pieces in the rotation - Diabaté with his length and energy, Bridges with his athleticism and scoring punch. But rather than folding, Charlotte is leaning into its depth and discipline.
They’re showing signs of a team-first identity that’s been building quietly but steadily.
Rookie guard Kon Knueppel put it plainly: defense is the difference. The Hornets have always had offensive talent - that much has never been in doubt.
But now, they’re stringing together stops. They’re locking in on that end of the floor, and it’s raising their ceiling in a real way.
The standings say the Hornets are in the thick of the play-in race. But inside that locker room, the mindset is shifting.
This isn’t just about sneaking into the postseason anymore. This team wants more.
They want to climb the standings and punch a ticket to the playoffs outright - no play-in required.
And here’s the thing: based on the way they’ve been playing, they’ve earned the right to think that way. This recent run hasn’t been smoke and mirrors. They’ve won in different ways, against quality opponents, and they’ve done it with a mix of grit, talent, and growth.
As they hit the break, the Hornets are a team on the rise - not just in the standings, but in identity and belief. And if they keep trending this way, they’re going to be a problem for anyone standing in their path.