Turnovers, Threes, and Trouble: Hornets Fall to Cavs Despite Bright Spots from Diabate, Miller, and Ball
The Charlotte Hornets came into their matchup with the Cleveland Cavaliers hoping to build some momentum, but what unfolded was a game that highlighted both their promise and their pitfalls. Despite standout efforts from Moussa Diabate, Brandon Miller, and LaMelo Ball, Charlotte couldn’t overcome a flurry of turnovers and a red-hot Cleveland offense, ultimately falling short in a game that slipped away in the second half.
Early Fireworks, Early Frustration
The night started with a bang. LaMelo Ball and Darius Garland traded buckets in a fast-paced opening stretch that felt more like a pick-up game than a December NBA tilt.
Both teams had no trouble scoring when they got shots up-but that was the problem for the Hornets. They just didn’t get enough shots up.
Sloppy ball-handling and live-ball turnovers stifled their offensive rhythm.
Charlotte’s second unit briefly flipped the script, injecting some energy and effort that helped them take the lead after one quarter. Ball and rookie standout Tyler Knueppel keyed a quick run early in the second, stretching the lead.
But the turnover bug bit again, and this time it was more than a nibble. The Hornets coughed it up repeatedly, giving Cleveland easy transition points and allowing them to put up 70 in the first half.
Charlotte trailed by seven at the break, but it felt like more.
Second Half Slips Away
If you were hoping for a cleaner start to the second half, the Hornets dashed those hopes immediately-turnover on the opening possession, and it turned into an and-one on the other end. That pretty much set the tone. While Moussa Diabate and Brandon Miller tried to keep things competitive, the Cavs found their groove from deep and started pulling away.
Then came the game’s turning point. Diabate, playing with his usual edge, caught De’Andre Hunter with an elbow while fighting for position.
It was ruled a flagrant foul. Hunter knocked down both free throws, then splashed a three on the ensuing possession.
Just like that, the Cavs had a nine-point cushion heading into the fourth.
And Hunter wasn’t done.
Hunter Heats Up, Hornets Fade
Whether it was the elbow to the nose or just a spark from the moment, De’Andre Hunter came out blazing in the fourth. He scored in bunches, and the Cavs followed his lead, raining threes and burying the Hornets under a barrage of perimeter shooting.
Charlotte’s defense had no answers. The rotations were slow, the closeouts half-hearted, and the switches too soft to matter.
By the time the Hornets emptied the bench for the final minutes, the game was effectively over. The reserves did manage to trim the deficit slightly, but the outcome was never really in doubt.
Bright Spots Amid the Breakdown
Let’s start with Moussa Diabate. The box score says 14 rebounds (six offensive) and six steals, but even those numbers don’t capture the chaos he created.
He was everywhere-disrupting passing lanes, battling for boards, and creating extra possessions. Twice he drew fouls while fighting for rebounds that turned into potential four-point plays.
He was relentless, and the Cavs felt it.
Brandon Miller also turned in a strong performance, especially in the third quarter. He found his rhythm, creating shots off the dribble and scoring efficiently from all three levels. He’s still working on speeding up some of his decision-making, but when he gets going, he’s tough to stop.
LaMelo Ball was the engine early on. After a frustrating outing against Detroit, he looked much more in control. Outside of a couple of heat-check moments, he played with poise, dropped some highlight-reel assists, and managed the offense well-when the Hornets weren’t giving the ball away, that is.
The Turnover Tale
And that’s the story of the night. The turnovers were brutal-most of the live-ball variety-and Cleveland didn’t have to work hard to capitalize.
Charlotte’s defense isn’t built to withstand that kind of pressure. When you’re already struggling to get stops in the half court, handing the opponent fast-break chances is a recipe for disaster.
Too many possessions ended with aimless drives and bailout passes that had no real target. It wasn’t just careless-it was costly.
Defensive Issues Continue
The Hornets’ defensive struggles weren’t limited to transition. In the half court, they rarely made Cleveland uncomfortable.
Lazy switches, soft closeouts, and poor help rotations gave the Cavs clean looks all night. There were moments-brief ones-where the defense tightened up and forced some tough shots, but it was far too little, far too late.
Another Injury Blow
To make matters worse, Mason Plumlee exited early in the second half with a groin injury. The Hornets can’t afford to lose more depth in the frontcourt, especially with how much they rely on his size and rebounding.
What’s Next?
The Hornets have shown flashes-flashes of defensive grit, offensive flow, and individual brilliance. But until they clean up the turnovers and commit to consistent defensive effort, those flashes will keep getting buried under big runs and bigger deficits.
There’s talent here, no doubt. Now it’s about putting it together for four quarters.
Up next, Charlotte will look to regroup and find some answers before this skid turns into something more serious.