NBA Notebook: Hornets Hit Another Wall, Nuggets Avoid Major Murray Scare, Kessler Stays Locked In with Jazz
Hornets: Two Steps Forward, One Big Step Back
Just when it looked like the Hornets might be building some momentum, reality came crashing back down. After back-to-back wins over the Bulls and Raptors had Charlotte fans hoping for a turnaround, the team delivered a flat performance Monday night, dropping a double-digit loss to a Brooklyn squad that came in with just three wins on the season.
That kind of letdown stings - and the players felt it.
Rookie Kon Knueppel didn’t mince words after the game, calling the team’s effort “unacceptable” and “really disappointing.” That’s not the kind of postgame quote you expect from a first-year player, but it speaks volumes about the current mood in the locker room. There’s frustration, and it’s not just from the young guys.
Veteran guard Collin Sexton echoed the sentiment, calling out the team’s lack of consistency and accountability.
“We can’t expect teams to lay down for us. We are not that team,” Sexton said.
“We’ve got to fight a full 48. We have to go take the wins.
If you don’t take them, nobody’s going to give them to you.”
Sexton didn’t stop there. He made it clear that a couple of wins don’t erase the bigger picture.
“We’re 6-15. What are we going to do?
We have to change the narrative. We can’t be like, ‘Oh, we won two in a row.’
We truly ain’t done s-t.”
That’s as raw and real as it gets. And he’s not wrong.
This team has talent, but until they clean up the mental lapses and stop beating themselves, they’ll keep spinning their wheels. Monday night was a prime example of that - a chance to build on momentum, squandered by the same issues that have haunted them all season.
Nuggets: Murray Injury Not as Bad as Feared
There was a collective sigh of relief in Denver after Jamal Murray’s latest injury scare turned out to be just a sprained right ankle. He went down Monday against Dallas, and for a moment, it looked like the Nuggets might be staring at another stretch without their star guard. But the early signs are encouraging - Murray is already listed as questionable for Wednesday’s game in Indiana.
That’s huge for a Denver team that’s already navigating a string of injuries.
Christian Braun and Aaron Gordon remain sidelined, and reserve wing Julian Strawther is about to miss his ninth straight game due to a back issue. According to head coach David Adelman, Strawther isn’t close to returning. The rookie has been limited to light movement and hasn’t resumed basketball activities.
“He’s been doing minimal movement stuff,” Adelman said. “Not basketball activity. No physicality.”
That’s not ideal for a team that relies heavily on its depth, especially during the grind of the regular season. But if Murray can avoid missing time, it’s a major bullet dodged for the defending champs.
Jazz: Kessler Staying Connected Despite Season-Ending Injury
Even though he won’t see the court again this season, Jazz center Walker Kessler is still very much part of the team.
Kessler, who’s out for the year with a shoulder injury, has remained engaged during his rehab process - attending practices, sitting in on film sessions, and staying connected with teammates. It’s the kind of behind-the-scenes presence that doesn’t show up in box scores but matters in a locker room.
“Rehab can be very isolating,” head coach Will Hardy said. “I want Walker around the team.”
Kessler isn’t traveling with the Jazz yet, but that’s expected to change as his recovery progresses. For now, his presence around the facility is a positive sign - both for his own mental grind and for a young team that still views him as a key piece of its future.
Bottom Line: The Hornets are still searching for consistency, the Nuggets are breathing easier after a close call with Murray, and the Jazz are keeping their injured big man in the fold. It’s a reminder that in the NBA, progress isn’t always linear - but how teams handle adversity often tells you more than the standings.