Hornets Hold Off Wizards for Third Straight Win in Gritty Battle
Final Score: Hornets 119, Wizards 115
Sometimes a win doesn’t have to be pretty to be important - and for the Charlotte Hornets, Thursday night’s 119-115 victory over the Washington Wizards was exactly that. It marked their third straight win and a sign of growing resilience from a team still figuring itself out.
This wasn’t a blowout, and it certainly wasn’t clean. The Hornets coughed up the ball 21 times and had to fend off a young Wizards squad that came in with energy, confidence, and a few standout performances of their own. But in the end, Charlotte found just enough plays - and just enough poise - to walk out with a much-needed W.
Washington’s Young Core Brings the Fight
Let’s start with the Wizards, because they didn’t come to roll over. Rookie guard Tre Johnson put together the best game of his young NBA career, dropping a career-high 26 points. He attacked with confidence, hit shots in rhythm, and looked every bit like a player ready to take on more responsibility in Washington’s rebuild.
Alex Sarr, the promising big man, added 24 points of his own, showing off his growing offensive bag. He was assertive inside, finishing through contact and flashing the kind of touch around the rim that gets front offices excited. And in the fourth quarter, Julian Champagnie gave the Hornets fits with 8 timely points, helping the Wizards stay within striking distance.
Defensively, Washington brought real intensity. They forced 21 turnovers - a number that should raise eyebrows in Charlotte’s film session - and made the Hornets work for just about everything.
This wasn’t a team mailing it in. The Wizards may be rebuilding, but there’s no lack of effort or upside on that roster.
Charlotte Finds a Way
For the Hornets, this game was about finding a way to win even when things weren’t clicking. And that, in itself, is growth.
They bent, but didn’t break. Despite the turnovers and some shaky stretches, Charlotte kept answering every Wizards run with a timely bucket or a key defensive stop. That’s the kind of mental toughness that’s been missing in stretches this season - and seeing it emerge now is a positive sign.
There were stretches where the Hornets’ offense looked fluid, moving the ball well and creating quality looks. But there were also stretches where they got sloppy, and that’s where the 21 turnovers come into play. Still, they shot well enough and got enough stops late to seal it.
What This Win Means
At 18-28, the Hornets are still a ways off from where they want to be, but a three-game win streak - no matter who it comes against - is something to build on. They’re starting to string together more consistent stretches of play and showing they can close out tight games, even when they don’t have their best stuff.
For a young team still developing its identity, that matters. These are the kinds of games that can help build confidence in the locker room and set the tone for the second half of the season.
As for the Wizards, the loss stings, but the silver lining is clear: their young core continues to show flashes. Tre Johnson’s breakout night is something to build on, and if Sarr keeps progressing like this, Washington’s future might be brighter than their record suggests.
Bottom line: This game wasn’t about style points - it was about grit. And on that front, Charlotte came out on top.