The Charlotte Hornets are starting to look like a team that’s finally finding its defensive identity-and it’s showing up in the box score. Thursday night’s convincing win over the Orlando Magic wasn’t just about the 97 points they held the visitors to-it marked the third straight game Charlotte has held an opponent under the century mark.
That’s not a fluke. That’s a trend.
Let’s rewind a bit. On Sunday, the Hornets went into Denver and stunned the defending champs with a 110-87 win.
Sure, the Nuggets were short-handed, but Jamal Murray was still on the floor-and he came in scorching hot, having dropped 33 or more in three straight games. Charlotte’s defense clamped down hard, limiting him to just 16 points-10 under his season average.
That’s the kind of performance that turns heads.
Fast forward to Wednesday, and the Hornets were back at it against the Cavaliers. This time, they couldn’t quite dig out of an early hole and fell 94-87, but even in defeat, the defense held firm. That’s three straight games under 100 points allowed, and more importantly, a sign that this team is starting to hang its hat on that end of the floor.
And here’s the kicker-this isn’t the first time they’ve strung together this kind of defensive effort. Earlier in January, they held the Bulls, Thunder, and Raptors to 99, 97, and 97 points, respectively.
That’s now seven times this month that Charlotte has kept an opponent below triple digits. That’s not just improvement-it’s a shift in identity.
Of course, the game that really turned heads was the 150-95 demolition of the Utah Jazz. That 55-point margin is the largest in the league this season and a statement that when the Hornets lock in, they can overwhelm teams on both ends of the floor.
So what’s driving this defensive surge? Health is a big part of it.
When the core rotation is intact, the Hornets are communicating better, rotating faster, and closing out with purpose. There’s a level of cohesion that wasn’t there earlier in the season when they were near the bottom of the league in defensive metrics.
And the timing couldn’t be better. With the playoff race heating up, Charlotte is suddenly looking like a team that could make a serious push.
They’ve got a positive point differential now-+0.4-and that’s not just a feel-good stat. It’s a sign that they’re winning more possessions than they’re losing.
In fact, they currently rank eighth in the Eastern Conference in that category.
Add in the fact that their remaining strength of schedule ranks 20th, and there’s a real path here. If the Hornets can keep this defensive intensity up-and continue to get production from their offense-they could be a tough out down the stretch.
A top-10 seed isn’t just a dream anymore. It’s on the table.
Charlotte’s defense is no longer just a liability they have to cover up. It’s becoming a weapon. And if they keep this up, the rest of the East better start paying attention.