The Charlotte Hornets bounced back in a big way Tuesday night, taking care of business at home with a convincing win over the Washington Wizards. Just 24 hours after a frustrating loss to the Cavaliers in Cleveland - a game where they lit it up offensively but couldn’t hold onto the ball - the Hornets flipped the script, tightening up defensively and closing strong to notch a much-needed victory heading into the holiday break.
Let’s start with the Monday night loss in Cleveland. Offensively, Charlotte was humming.
They dropped 132 points and shot a blistering 50% from beyond the arc - the kind of shooting night you usually win with. But turnovers were the Achilles’ heel.
The Hornets coughed it up 20 times, and the Cavs made them pay, turning those mistakes into 31 points. That kind of swing is hard to survive, and despite the hot shooting, Charlotte came up seven points short.
Fast forward to Tuesday, and the Hornets came out with energy, but the defense took a while to settle in. Washington put up 65 points in the first half, and it looked like it might be another high-scoring, down-to-the-wire affair.
But whatever was said in the locker room at halftime worked. Charlotte clamped down in the second half, allowing just 44 points over the final two quarters.
That defensive intensity, especially in the fourth quarter, made all the difference. The Hornets outscored the Wizards 34-19 in the final frame, pulling away for a 17-point win that felt like a statement - not just to the opponent, but to themselves.
One of the biggest bright spots over this back-to-back stretch? Moussa Diabate.
With Ryan Kalkbrenner sidelined both nights due to an elbow sprain, Diabate stepped into a larger role and made the most of it. On Monday in Cleveland, he was a defensive disruptor, grabbing 14 rebounds and swiping six steals to go along with five points.
Then on Tuesday, he took it up another level. Diabate posted a double-double - 12 points and 18 rebounds - and was relentless on the offensive glass, pulling down eight offensive boards.
That kind of hustle doesn’t just show up in the box score - it changes possessions, shifts momentum, and breathes life into a team.
For context, Diabate currently holds the fourth-highest offensive rebounding percentage in the league at 14.4%, trailing only Steven Adams, Donovan Clingan, and Yves Missi. That’s elite company, and it speaks to the motor and timing he brings every time he hits the floor.
With Kalkbrenner listed as questionable ahead of Tuesday’s game, there’s a good chance the Hornets will have both bigs available when they return to action on December 26. That’s a frontcourt pairing worth watching - Diabate’s energy combined with Kalkbrenner’s size and rim protection could give Charlotte a versatile, impactful duo moving forward.
For now, the Hornets head into the Christmas break with a win, some momentum, and a developing rotation that’s showing signs of life.