The Charlotte Hornets may have seen their nine-game winning streak snapped on Monday night, but what unfolded in Detroit was about more than just the final score. In a game that had all the intensity of a playoff battle - and, yes, a scuffle that will likely lead to suspensions - the Hornets showed they’re not just a team on a hot streak. They’re a team that’s arrived.
Facing the Eastern Conference’s top seed, the Hornets went blow-for-blow in a physical, high-energy contest that ended in a 110-104 loss. But don’t let the L on the scoreboard fool you - this was a statement game for Charlotte. Head coach Charles Lee certainly thought so.
“This was a freaking great game for us,” Lee said postgame. “Phenomenal opportunity for us to play against the top seed right now. They were tested with physicality and competitive threats thrown at them.”
And tested they were. The Pistons came in as the favorite, and they played like it.
They matched Charlotte’s energy, leaned into the physicality, and ultimately pulled away late. But the Hornets didn’t back down - not from the moment the ball was tipped, and not when things got heated.
The scuffle, which will almost certainly result in disciplinary action for multiple players including Isaiah Stewart, will dominate the headlines. Lee himself was ejected, along with others, as tensions boiled over. But beyond the chaos, this was a game that showed exactly what kind of edge the Hornets are playing with right now.
“All the physicality. Gotta commend that tonight... Our competitive spirit tonight was really good,” Lee added.
He’s right. That competitive spirit has been the backbone of Charlotte’s recent surge.
The Hornets had been rolling, stacking wins with a blend of gritty defense, confident ball movement, and a growing belief in themselves. That belief didn’t disappear just because they ran into the East’s best.
If anything, it got stronger.
This wasn’t just a moral victory - it was a measuring stick. The Hornets went toe-to-toe with the top team in the conference and proved they belong in that conversation.
The loss may have ended the streak, but it didn’t derail the momentum. If anything, it reinforced the idea that Charlotte is for real.
There’s still work to be done, and the league will be watching closely to see how the Hornets respond - both to the loss and to any fallout from the altercation. But make no mistake: This team isn’t just hot.
They’re hungry. They’re physical.
And they’re ready to keep climbing.