The Hornets don’t get much time to admire a good win in the NBA, and Charlotte has already learned that lesson this week.
After getting blasted by 47 points and then turning around to upset the Miami Heat, the Hornets now have another fast test waiting as they open their NBA Cup run against the Wizards. This one comes with a different kind of backdrop than the last game: not a blowout to erase, but a tight loss that was followed by questions about effort and a locker room issue. Whatever the explanation, it led to Naz Reid sitting out the entire second half, and Charlotte may have paid for it.
Reid should be central again tonight. In the Hornets’ 110-103 win over Washington just a few days ago, he finished with 18 points and 12 rebounds. Brandon Miller was even more devastating in that game, erupting for a career-high 39 points against the Wizards.
Charlotte’s injury situation still leaves plenty to sort through. Kon Knueppel, Coby White, and Grant Williams remain out with left hamstring, left calf, and right hamstring injuries, respectively, while Kylan Boswell and Michael Ajayi are with the G-League. Dennis Schröder is questionable with a right foot issue, and that status matters a lot more than usual.
If Schröder can’t go, the Hornets’ rotation gets messy fast. That would leave rookie point guard Christian Anderson Jr. and pseudo-point guard Sion James as the main answers.
Both have struggled early on offensively. Anderson, who has built a reputation as a strong shooter, has made one three and turned it over nine times so far.
James has been ice cold from deep, hitting just four of 24 attempts.
Still, Charlotte has a blueprint from the first meeting. The Hornets did a strong job of staying out of foul trouble and limited Washington to a season-low 15 free-throw attempts.
That kind of discipline matters again here, especially against a Wizards group that likes to score inside and doesn’t lean heavily on catch-and-shoot looks. Washington ranks second-to-last in catch-and-shoot points per game at 20.2, ahead of only the Sacramento Kings, while Charlotte sits 15th at 30.8.
That should push Charles Lee’s team toward a pretty clear defensive approach: live with the slightly contested threes, but do not give up easy pull-up looks for Trae Young or Anthony Davis. The Wizards’ attack also gets a boost from Justin Champagnie being out after suffering a foot fracture earlier this week.
There is one major change from Monday’s matchup, though. AJ Dybantsa, the top pick this year, made his NBA debut after missing the first few games with an injury, and he posted 19 points on 8-of-12 shooting against the Cleveland Cavaliers. He does not solve Washington’s defensive problems, but he adds another scorer who can pressure the rim.
That means the Hornets will need another strong showing from Moussa Diabaté, Ryan Kalkbrenner, and possibly Hannes Steinbach. Their job is not just to handle Anthony Davis, but also to help contain Trae Young, Dybantsa, and the rest of Washington’s attack.
In Other News...
Naz Reid Suddenly Faces Pressure In Charlotte After Costly Message
The Hornets have been trying to steady themselves around a young roster, but the latest wrinkle came from Charles Lees handling of Naz Reid after a rough first half. Reid never returned for the second half, a decision that underscored how quickly accountability can become part of the conversation when a team is still defining its identity and standards.
Lee made clear after the game that the issue was not just about performance, but about Reid not meeting the level the staff expects. The two addressed it afterward and said they are moving forward, though the episode leaves Charlotte with another reminder that even in a season of development, the details off the box score can carry real weight. [Read more 🡒]
Hornets Face A Tough .500 Test With Their Backcourt Under Pressure
The Hornets are heading into another meeting with Washington carrying a thinner backcourt than they would like, and the timing is not ideal for a team trying to stay around .500. Charlotte already has to navigate life without Coby White and Grant Williams, while Dennis Schrder is still on the injury report as questionable, leaving the rotation in a spot where every available guard matters a little more than usual.
Washington, meanwhile, gets another look at Charlotte with its top draft pick AJ Dybantsa back in the mix after making his debut, adding another layer to a matchup that already feels like a test of depth and resilience. The rematch sets up as a tricky one for the Hornets, who need healthier bodies and cleaner guard play to keep pace, but the broader concern is whether they can hold up long enough to avoid letting this game slip away. [Read more 🡒]
Hornets Face An Early Test As Wizards Hype Starts Building
The Hornets are walking into an early-season NBA Cup test with a little extra buzz around the other side, as Washington gets ready to showcase AJ Dybantsa in his home debut. Dybantsa missed the start of the season with a left ankle sprain, then came back and scored 19 points in his first game back, giving the Wizards a fresh jolt as they try to build on a 2-3 start.
Charlotte has handled this matchup well lately, winning the last five meetings with Washington, which adds a little edge to a game that already carries some tournament weight. For the Hornets, it is another chance to see whether that recent run against the Wizards can keep holding up, even with a healthier and more energized version of Washington coming into the building. [Read more 🡒]