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Hornets

Rex Chapman and Josh Hopkins get into which high-flyer had the better poster this season.

Better dunk: Miles Bridges or Anthony Edwards?

The&nbsp;<a class="c-link" tabindex="-1" href="https://www.basketballnetwork.net/steve-kerr-explains-what-makes-stephen-curry-hes-a-lot-like-michael-jordan/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-stringify-link="https://www.basketballnetwork.net/giannis-antetokounmpo-shares-why-he-doesnt-associate-or-practice-with-other-nba-players-in-the-offseason/" data-sk="tooltip_parent" data-remove-tab-index="true">following article</a>&nbsp;first appeared on&nbsp;<a class="c-link" tabindex="-1" href="http://basketballnetwork.net/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-stringify-link="http://BasketballNetwork.net" data-sk="tooltip_parent" data-remove-tab-index="true">BasketballNetwork.net</a>:
Charlotte Hornets forward Miles Bridges has built a reputation as one of the fiercest dunkers in the league today. He&rsquo;s the favorite receiver of LaMelo Ball, as they&rsquo;ve connected on some pretty nasty alley-oops.
Bridges, who some believe could be an All-Star this season, can po<a href="https://www.basketballnetwork.net/miles-bridges-is-fed-up-with-draymond-green-wants-to-dunk-on-him/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">https://www.basketballnetwork.net/miles-bridges-is-fed-up-with-draymond-green-wants-to-dunk-on-him/</a>sterize foes without Ball&rsquo;s assistance. Just ask Clint Capela, who almost saw his life flash before him in the summer after getting spiked on by Bridges after a solid drive to the hoop.
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Bridges is thrilled whenever this type of opportunity arises. Whenever there&rsquo;s an open lane, the goal is not just to score two points; the ultimate mission is to catch a body.
However, there's one player he hasn't been able to dunk on yet: Draymond Green. According to Bridges, Green is moving heaven and earth to prevent Bridges from even touching the rim. This has irritated Bridges so much that he has placed Green on his dunk hit list.
&ldquo;One person I really want to get is Draymond because he continues to talk stuff to me. Every time he sees me going for a dunk, he tries to foul me,&rdquo; Bridges said on NBA on ESPN.
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Draymond fans already know that the man is one of the best defenders in the league, so it makes sense that he won&rsquo;t let the other team get easy ones. If he can't block Bridges, the obvious solution is to stop him before he gets up in the air.
Though Bridges was all smiles when he placed a bullseye on Green, he also sounded pretty serious.
This little rivalry reminds us of Michael Jordan and Dikembe Mutombo in the 1990s. Mutombo reminded Jordan that he hadn&rsquo;t dunked on him ever, and Jordan, as always, took it personally. When he finally slammed one down on Mount Mutombo, MJ rubbed salt on the wound by pulling out the finger-wag taunt.
Since the Hornets and Warriors have already finished their season series, we'll see if Bridges has such a moment the next time the two meet on the court next year.
Check out more articles from BasketballNetwork.net&nbsp;<a href="https://www.basketballnetwork.net/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">here</a>.

On NBA on ESPN, Miles Bridges shared his thoughts on his favorite dunk to date and making Green his next victim.

Miles Bridges voices desire to posterize Draymond Green next

Charlotte Hornets and swingman Miles Bridges will not reach agreement on a rookie-scale extension before the deadline, league sources tell @YahooSports.
Source: <a href="https://twitter.com/chrisbhaynes/status/1450218827338424320?s=21" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Chris Haynes of Yahoo Sports (Twitter)</a>
ANALYSIS: The 23-year-old, Bridges, is coming off averages of 12.7 points, 6.0 rebounds, and 2.2 assists in almost 30 minutes per game during 2020-21. Bridges will enter restricted free agency at the end of the 2021-22 season.

According to Yahoo Sports, Miles Bridges and the Charlotte Hornets did not reach an agreement on a rookie-scale extension.

Hornets, Miles Bridges don't reach agreement on rookie extension

NEW YORK (AP) &mdash; Miles Bridges made sure LaMelo Ball wasn&rsquo;t missed.
Bridges scored a career-high 38 points and grabbed 12 rebounds, leading the Charlotte Hornets to a 97-87 victory over the New York Knicks on Monday.
Terry Rozier added 22 points. He and Bridges combined to outscore the Knicks by themselves in the first half as Charlotte bounced back nicely from a loss to Orlando that ended its four-game winning streak.
Ball was ill but the Hornets didn&rsquo;t need their flashy point guard, with Bridges driving them to a strong start. He scored 28 points in the first half.
&ldquo;He was awesome tonight. High-level performance. His confidence, the spirit he played with, led us to this victory,&rdquo; Charlotte coach James Borrego said. &ldquo;I thought Terry controlled the game as well. Miles and Terry together controlled that game, but Miles was fantastic.&rdquo;
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Rozier had 17 in the first half, when Charlotte led 62-44.
Julius Randle and RJ Barrett each scored 18 points for the Knicks, who had their three-game winning streak snapped.
Ball was listed as questionable with an illness unrelated to COVID-19, but the Hornets said just before the start that he was available to play. Ball sat on the bench with his teammates to watch the impressive performances by Bridges and Rozier.
Bridges was 7 for 8 in the first quarter for 22 points. The Knicks barely outscored him, with Charlotte leading 34-23.
&ldquo;LaMelo, he usually brings that aggression for us and we go as he goes, so somebody had to pick up the slack,&rdquo; Bridges said. &ldquo;So I wanted to go out there and be aggressive from the jump and T-Ro started being aggressive and Gordon (Hayward), so it was like a domino effect.&rdquo;
Bridges started the second quarter on the bench and the Knicks immediately ran off seven straight points to get within four. The Hornets called time, put Bridges back in after barely a two-minute break, and quickly regained control.
Bridges had the last three baskets of an 8-0 run that extended the lead to 45-33, a lead that grew to 18 at halftime after Rozier made 3-pointers for their final two baskets.
&ldquo;I think if you look at, honestly, the rest of the game, especially in the second half, we played well,&rdquo; Barrett said, noting the Knicks held the Hornets to 35 points after halftime.
&ldquo;So it was really just that first half, especially that first quarter.&rdquo;
Bridges, who shot 14 for 20, made a 3-pointer late in the third that gave Charlotte its biggest lead at 86-63. He got the basket that tied his previous high of 35 in the fourth quarter with a spectacular baseline drive and reverse scoop that had teammates grinning.
TIP-INS
Hornets: Hayward scored 16 points. .... Bridges has seven 30-point games this season. He had three in his first three seasons. ... Kelly Oubre was out because of health and safety protocols.
Knicks: Point guard Kemba Walker missed his ninth straight game with a sore left knee. ... Coach Tom Thibodeau celebrated his 64th birthday. ... Mayor Eric Adams addressed the crowd on Martin Luther King Jr. Day before the game, saying that just as &ldquo;Dr. King wanted the ball in his hands&rdquo; during the civil rights movement, New Yorkers wanted it now to lead the recovery from the coronavirus pandemic. &ldquo;Let&rsquo;s win this for Team New York and Team America,&rdquo; Adams said.
HOT HALF
The Hornets said that Bridges was just the fourth Charlotte player in the last 25 years with at least 28 points in a first half, and two have come against the Knicks in the last two seasons.
Hayward also had 28 against New York in Charlotte on Jan. 11, 2021. Walker had 35 against Memphis on March 22, 2018, while Glen Rice had 28 against Phoenix on Feb. 19, 1997.
UP NEXT
Hornets: Visit Boston on Wednesday.
Knicks: Host Minnesota on Tuesday.
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Bridges and Terry Rozier combined to outscore the Knicks by themselves in the first half.

Miles Bridges scores 38, Hornets beat Knicks without LaMelo Ball

Hornets forward Miles Bridges is expected to miss 10-to-14 days due to health and safety protocols, sources tell The Athletic and Stadium. 
Source: <a href="https://twitter.com/ShamsCharania/status/1389617945156980736" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Shams Charania of The Athletic (Twitter)</a>
ANALYSIS: Miles Bridges has been great for the Hornets this season, averaging 12.4 points, 6.1 rebounds, and 2.2 assists in 29.0 minutes per game. This news comes at an awful time for Charlotte, as they are currently fighting for playoff positioning in the East and will now have to do so without one of their key players off the bench.&nbsp;

Hornets' Miles Bridges is expected to miss 10-14 days due to the league's health and safety protocols.

Hornets' Miles Bridges to miss 10-14 days due to health/safety protocols

The NBA announced today that Stephen Curry and Miles Bridges have earned Western and Eastern Conference Player of the Week honors for the opening week of the 2021-22 regular season. Both players led their respective squads to 3-0 starts.
Curry averaged 31.0 points, 9.0 rebounds and 7.0 assists per game in a dominant week. He logged 45 points and 10 rebounds in a win over the Clippers and also helped the Warriors beat the Lakers and Kings. Curry leads the league with 36 made three-pointers.
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What more can you say about Steph? 45 PTS 10 REB 8/13 3PT Warriors W An all-time great. 🔥 <a href="https://t.co/9jrY7GMFxC">pic.twitter.com/9jrY7GMFxC</a>
&mdash; BasketballNews.com (@basketbllnews) <a href="https://twitter.com/basketbllnews/status/1451408110124507138?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 22, 2021</a></blockquote>

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Bridges, meanwhile, averaged 25.0 points, 8.0 rebounds and 2.7 steals per game for the young Hornets. He logged 32 points and nine rebounds to help Charlotte beat the Nets on Sunday, and is currently shooting a blistering 44.4% from beyond the arc.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-theme="dark">
BIG game from Miles Bridges 😤 - 32 PTS - 9 REB - 9/16 FG Hornets win vs. Nets and are 3-0 🤫<a href="https://t.co/Q01cKqhAYL">pic.twitter.com/Q01cKqhAYL</a>
&mdash; BasketballNews.com (@basketbllnews) <a href="https://twitter.com/basketbllnews/status/1452398324842221568?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 24, 2021</a></blockquote>

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Curry and Bridges both led their teams to 3-0 starts in the opening week.

Steph Curry, Miles Bridges earn Player of the Week honors for Oct. 19-24

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) &mdash; While the Charlotte Hornets found a player to build around in point guard LaMelo Ball and made significant strides this season, coach James Borrego knows there&rsquo;s plenty of work to do before his young team is ready to compete with the NBA&rsquo;s elite.
And he&rsquo;s hoping a disappointing finish to the season will provide the impetus to get there.
Charlotte was fourth in the Eastern Conference last month before injuries sent the team into a tailspin. The Hornets were 8-17 after Gordon Hayward went down with a season-ending foot injury and lost their final six games, including an embarrassing 144-117 loss to the Indiana Pacers in the play-in tournament.
Borrego said the late season struggles serve as a &ldquo;necessary step&rdquo; for the Hornets.
&ldquo;Every great team, every great player has been hit in the mouth to close the season &mdash; every one of them,&rdquo; Borrego said. &ldquo;I have yet to see a player or organization from day one where they come out and are just rolling. It just doesn't happen. This is the fire you have to go through &mdash; and we're in that fire right now. It's disappointing, it hurts and it's frustrating, but this is what gets you up in the summertime to get in the gym, get in the weight room and get better."
Despite struggling down the stretch, Borrego said there is plenty of optimism &mdash; and much of that is due to Ball.
The No. 3 pick in the NBA draft exceeded expectations in a year where the Hornets didn't have a regular offseason and barely practiced during a condensed season. Ball was named NBA rookie of the month three times before a broken wrist sidelined him for 21 games.
Ball struggled after returning late in the season, often shaking the wrist in obvious discomfort, but still finished the year averaging 15.7 points. 6.1 assists and 5.9 rebounds per game. He is a leading to win NBA rookie of the year.
&ldquo;He has ignited us, he has given us hope and given us tremendous excitement," Borrego said.
Forward Miles Bridges said the Hornets are ready to take the next step.
&ldquo;To get embarrassed like we did (in the play-in tournament), it will only fuel our fire,&rdquo; Bridges said.
Added Hayward: &ldquo;I&rsquo;m definitely optimistic about our future.&rdquo;
FREE AGENT DESTINATION
Hayward was a big free agent pickup for the Hornets, and the forward thinks others will soon follow him to Charlotte.
&ldquo;The way we played this season turned a lot of heads around the league and made a lot of people want to come here,&rdquo; Hayward said. &ldquo;We move the ball and get up and down the court. ... So hopefully guys will want to jump on that train.&rdquo;
Hayward added that his foot is almost fully healed and he expects to fine for next season.
CENTER IS AN ISSUE
Borrego refused to discuss roster evaluations, but it's clear one area in need of an upgrade is at center where both Cody Zeller and Bismack Biyombo are unrestricted free agents. The Hornets were routinely outrebounded and lacked a scoring punch inside or a big that could step out and knock down the 3 and help spread the defense.
In fact, 6-foot-7 P.J. Washington served most of the season as the team's center with the Hornets going to a small ball lineup.
KEY DECISIONS
General manager Mitch Kupchak will have a couple of tough decisions to make with restricted free agent guards Devonte Graham and Malik Monk.
Graham's production dipped from 18.2 points per game last season to 14.8 this year after being replaced in the starting lineup by Ball. Monk is coming off a season where he averaged 11.7 points per game and shot a career-best 40.1% from 3-point land but struggled down the stretch.
MELO'S DEFENSE
Borrego said the Hornets will continue to work on developing their young players, and that includes Ball.
&ldquo;He does have to grow on the defensive area and I&rsquo;ve seen growth throughout this season with him,&rdquo; Borrego said. "He&rsquo;s a young, 19-year-old that has not had this type of experience before and been held accountable defensively. That&rsquo;s an area of importance for us. For us to be a high-level defense, we&rsquo;re going to need everybody to be their best, including Melo.&rdquo;
Borrego said the best part about Ball is he's coachable and &ldquo;receptive&rdquo; to constructive criticism.
BRIDGES STEP FORWARD
One Hornets player who took a huge step forward was Miles Bridges, who gained confidence as the season went along before being sidelined for two weeks by the league's healthy and safety protocols.
Bridges shot 50.3 percent from the field and 40% from 3-point range, showing shooting range that he'd lacked the past. He was also on the receiving end of several highlight-reel alley-oop dunks from Ball.
___
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“To get embarrassed like we did (in the play-in tournament), it will only fuel our fire,” Miles Bridges said.

Borrego hopes tough finish drives Hornets to take next step

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) &mdash; Terry Rozier sought out Charlotte Hornets teammate Mason Plumlee, the team's 7-foot center, after Sunday night's game and joked that he plans to handle all jump balls going forward.
Rozier outleaped Draymond Green on a late jump ball and also made two key free throws to help the Hornets snap the Golden State Warriors&rsquo; winning streak at seven, 106-102 on Sunday night.
Rozier finished with 20 points &mdash; all in the second half &mdash; Miles Bridges had 22, LaMelo Ball added 21, and Cody Martin had 12 points and eight rebounds. The Hornets improved to 8-7, winning three straight after a five-game skid.
&ldquo;This says a lot for our team and where we are headed,&rdquo; Rozier said. &ldquo;We are trying to go places and get our organization like theirs. This is a great step to where we think we want to go.&rdquo;
With the Hornets leading by two, Green and Andre Iguodala trapped Rozier near the sideline at midcourt with 15.3 seconds left, forcing a jump ball.
Given the size discrepancy, it looked as if Warriors would get the ball back and have a chance to win or send the game into overtime, but the 6-foot-1 Rozier outleaped the 6-foot-6 Green and the Hornets controlled the tip, with Jalen McDaniels coming down with the ball.
The Warriors were forced to quickly foul and Rozier made both free throws with 12.7 seconds to make it a two-possession game. Golden State missed its final two shots.
&ldquo;I think it is more like the timing of the ball,&rdquo; Rozier said. &ldquo;...I definitely wanted it because I had just turned the ball over and it was like everybody in the whole gym was looking at No. 3. I just wanted to try to make a play for our team and it worked out.&rdquo;
Green said the official was still talking to him and Rozier when he threw the ball up in the air, and he was caught off-guard.
&ldquo;He was like, 'I'm going to throw the ball all the way to the top, it's going all the way...' and then boom!'" Green said. &ldquo;And I'm like, &lsquo;Oh, (crap)!&rsquo; But like I said, I have to get that jump regardless of the situation.&rdquo;
Andrew Wiggins scored 28 points on 12-of-19 shooting for Golden State, and Stephen Curry added 24 points and 10 assists in his annual homecoming game. Coming off an eight-game homestand, the Warriors dropped to 11-2.
The game featured 25 lead changes and neither team led by more than seven points.
The intensity picked up after Charlotte's Kelly Oubre Jr. was charged with a double-technical and ejected early in the fourth quarter after complaining to an official about a non-call on a driving layup. Oubre spent last season with Golden State before signing with the Hornets last offseason.
It went back and forth from there, with both sides chirping at the officials.
Crew chief David Guthrie said Oubre was ejected because of two separate unsportsmanlike acts.
&ldquo;The first technical foul was for an overt unsportsmanlike action indicating resentment to a no call,&rdquo; Guthrie said on the NBA pool report. "The second technical was for an unsportsmanlike wave off directed towards the official.&rdquo;
The left-handed-shooting Bridges once again led the Hornets in scoring, and it was the forward's right-hand hook shot in the lane with 39 seconds left that gave Charlotte the lead for good.
CURRY RETURNS
It was a packed house at the Spectrum Center to see Curry, who grew up in Charlotte and played at Davidson College.
Curry gave the crowd something to cheer about when he made a steal in the frontcourt and then launched a no-look, over-the-head pass up the court that hit Jordan Poole in stride for a breakaway dunk. Curry also connected on a 37-foot buzzer-beater at the end of the third quarter to give the Warriors the lead.
But Curry wasn't happy with his own shot selection in the second half.
&ldquo;I got roped into a little bit trying to go for those daggers a couple of times when I didn't really have it,&rdquo; Curry said. &ldquo;So it's a good learning lesson in the early part of the season, especially on the road.&rdquo;
TIP-INS
Warriors: They are the only team in the NBA to score 100 points in every game this season. ... Jonathan Kuminga had a career-high nine points. ... Green drew a technical foul in the first half.
Hornets: Bridges made the mistake of fouling Kuminga on a half-court heave at the end of the first half, sending the big man to the line. But Kuminga only made 1-of-3 foul shots. ... Ball was assessed a technical foul in the second half.
UP NEXT
Warriors: At Brooklyn on Tuesday night.
Hornets: Host Washington on Wednesday night.

Led by Miles Bridges, Terry Rozier and LaMelo Ball, the Charlotte Hornets defeated the Golden State Warriors 106-102 on Sunday.

Hornets beat Warriors 106-102, ending Golden State's 7-game win streak

NEW YORK (AP) &mdash; Miles Bridges made sure LaMelo Ball wasn't missed.
Bridges scored a career-high 38 points and grabbed 12 rebounds, leading the Charlotte Hornets to a 97-87 victory over the New York Knicks on Monday.
Terry Rozier added 22 points. He and Bridges combined to outscore the Knicks by themselves in the first half as Charlotte bounced back nicely from a loss to Orlando that ended its four-game winning streak.
Ball was ill but the Hornets didn't need their flashy point guard, with Bridges driving them to a strong start. He scored 28 points in the first half.
&ldquo;He was awesome tonight. High-level performance. His confidence, the spirit he played with, led us to this victory,&rdquo; Charlotte coach James Borrego said. &ldquo;I thought Terry controlled the game as well. Miles and Terry together controlled that game, but Miles was fantastic.&rdquo;
Rozier had 17 in the first half, when Charlotte led 62-44.
Julius Randle and RJ Barrett each scored 18 points for the Knicks, who had their three-game winning streak snapped.
Ball was listed as questionable with an illness unrelated to COVID-19, but the Hornets said just before the start that he was available to play. Ball sat on the bench with his teammates to watch the impressive performances by Bridges and Rozier.
Bridges was 7 for 8 in the first quarter for 22 points. The Knicks barely outscored him, with Charlotte leading 34-23.
&ldquo;LaMelo, he usually brings that aggression for us and we go as he goes, so somebody had to pick up the slack,&rdquo; Bridges said. &ldquo;So I wanted to go out there and be aggressive from the jump and T-Ro started being aggressive and Gordon (Hayward), so it was like a domino effect.&rdquo;
Bridges started the second quarter on the bench and the Knicks immediately ran off seven straight points to get within four. The Hornets called time, put Bridges back in after barely a two-minute break, and quickly regained control.
Bridges had the last three baskets of an 8-0 run that extended the lead to 45-33, a lead that grew to 18 at halftime after Rozier made 3-pointers for their final two baskets.
&ldquo;I think if you look at, honestly, the rest of the game, especially in the second half, we played well,&rdquo; Barrett said, noting the Knicks held the Hornets to 35 points after halftime.
&ldquo;So it was really just that first half, especially that first quarter.&rdquo;
Bridges, who shot 14 for 20, made a 3-pointer late in the third that gave Charlotte its biggest lead at 86-63. He got the basket that tied his previous high of 35 in the fourth quarter with a spectacular baseline drive and reverse scoop that had teammates grinning.
TIP-INS
Hornets: Hayward scored 16 points. .... Bridges has seven 30-point games this season. He had three in his first three seasons. ... Kelly Oubre was out because of health and safety protocols.
Knicks: Point guard Kemba Walker missed his ninth straight game with a sore left knee. ... Coach Tom Thibodeau celebrated his 64th birthday. ... Mayor Eric Adams addressed the crowd on Martin Luther King Jr. Day before the game, saying that just as &ldquo;Dr. King wanted the ball in his hands" during the civil rights movement, New Yorkers wanted it now to lead the recovery from the coronavirus pandemic. &ldquo;Let&rsquo;s win this for Team New York and Team America,&rdquo; Adams said.
HOT HALF
The Hornets said that Bridges was just the fourth Charlotte player in the last 25 years with at least 28 points in a first half, and two have come against the Knicks in the last two seasons.
Hayward also had 28 against New York in Charlotte on Jan. 11, 2021. Walker had 35 against Memphis on March 22, 2018, while Glen Rice had 28 against Phoenix on Feb. 19, 1997.
UP NEXT
Hornets: Visit Boston on Wednesday.
Knicks: Host Minnesota on Tuesday.

Miles Bridges scored a career-high 38 points and grabbed 12 rebounds, leading the Hornets to a 97-87 victory over the Knicks.

Bridges scores 38, Hornets beat Knicks without Ball

Miles Bridges scored 32 points and the Charlotte Hornets, without four players, leaned on their best 3-point shooting game of the season and beat the Atlanta Hawks 130-127 on Sunday night.
Bridges made each of his four shots in the fourth quarter, when he scored 13 points.
&ldquo;I feel like that&rsquo;s a statement game, let people know that we&rsquo;re here,&rdquo; Bridges said.
Kelly Oubre Jr. made six 3s and scored 28 points for Charlotte. The Hornets made a season-high 17 3s.
Hawks coach Nate McMillan said the Hornets, even when short-handed, are &ldquo;probably the best catch-and-shoot team in the league.&rdquo;
&ldquo;We just really weren&rsquo;t able to get stops when we needed to,&rdquo; McMillan said. &ldquo;We scored 127 points. That&rsquo;s more than enough to win the game. It comes down to defensively being able to stop them and we weren&rsquo;t able to do that.&rdquo;
John Collins led Atlanta with a season-best 31 points and 12 rebounds.
Among the four Charlotte players held out after being placed in the NBA&rsquo;s health and safety protocols was leading scorer LaMelo Ball. Also, starting guard Terry Rozier, the third-leading scorer, and two more usual rotation players &mdash; center Mason Plumlee and forward Jalen McDaniels &mdash; were held out. They&rsquo;ll be sidelined for at least 10 days.
&ldquo;It was about who wanted it more and we have some guys on our team who are just dogs and wouldn&rsquo;t be denied,&rdquo; Oubre said.
&ldquo;It was a blessing for us to go out and just compete and hold it down for our brothers.&rdquo;
Oubre, Ish Smith and Nick Richards moved into the starting lineup.
Bridges' 3 with 4:26 remaining gave Charlotte a 115-113 lead that it didn't relinquish. Oubre added another key 3 to push the lead to 122-116.
Trae Young's jumper with 22 seconds remaining cut Charlotte's lead to three points. Young scored 25 points and had a season-high 15 assists.
Atlanta's Kevin Huerter tried to counter Charlotte's long-distance game by making a career-best seven 3s, finishing with 28 points.
The Hornets made 53.5% of their shots from the field and 17 of 37 3s.
After trailing 74-63 early in the third quarter, the Hawks were boosted by three consecutive 3-pointers, including two by Collins, to cut the Hornets' lead to two points.
Atlanta led 89-87 before the Hornets regained momentum with a 12-0 run late in the third. Cody Martin had eight points, including two 3s, in the run.
TIP-INS
Hornets: Charlotte's previous high for 3s was 14 in a 127-125 loss at Milwaukee on Wednesday. The Hornets matched that through three quarters &mdash; after a late 3 by Martin to end the third was disallowed. ... Martin had a career-high 19 points and Gordon Hayward added 18.
Hawks: F Solomon Hill was helped to the locker room after he slipped, did a split, and suffered a right hamstring injury late in the first quarter. Minutes later, he was ruled out for the remainder of the game. ... After winning eight of their first 10 home games, the Hawks have suffered back-to-back losses at State Farm Arena. ... F Cam Reddish (non-COVID illness) and G Bogdan Bogdanovic (right ankle sprain) did not play for the third consecutive game. ... Young was listed as questionable before the game with left knee soreness.
HELP AT THE POINT
Smith, who led Charlotte with seven assists, started at point guard. Smith had help from Martin, who had four assists in addition to his scoring high.
&ldquo;It&rsquo;s not a coincidence we win this game with Cody out there 32 minutes and has a plus-22,&rdquo; said Hornets coach James Borrego.
NO DEFENSE
Huerter said Atlanta&rsquo;s defense was &ldquo;pretty bad, plain and simple.&rdquo; He said inconsistency on defense has been an issue all season. &ldquo;What that is I can&rsquo;t put my finger on,&rdquo; he said.
UP NEXT
Hornets: Host Philadelphia 76ers on Monday.
Hawks: Visit Minnesota on Monday.

Miles Bridges scored 32 points and the Hornets, without four players, leaned on their best three-point shooting game of the season and beat the Hawks.

Short-handed Hornets lean on threes, top Hawks 130-127

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) &mdash; Terry Rozier scored 28 points, Miles Bridges added 21 points and eight rebounds, and the Charlotte Hornets beat the Milwaukee Bucks 114-106 on Saturday night, handing the defending NBA champions their third loss in four games.
LaMelo Ball chipped in with 19 points, nine rebounds and eight assists for the Hornets, who held Milwaukee to 38.9% shooting on the Bucks' second road game in two nights.
Giannis Antetokounmpo had 43 points and 12 rebounds, while Khris Middleton added 27 points, 10 rebounds and nine assists for Milwaukee, which won in Brooklyn on Friday but fell to 13-9 on the road. Antetokounmpo finished 18 of 20 from the free throw line.
&ldquo;That is a big win right there for us,&rdquo; said Hornets coach James Borrego.
Added Bridges: &ldquo;This gives us confidence. They are world champs for a reason.&rdquo;
The teams meet again Monday in Charlotte.
&ldquo;They play hard and they are scrappy,&rdquo; Antetokounmpo said. &ldquo;They defend man-to-man and then they'll go zone. ... We have to trust one another and just focus on ourselves.&rdquo;
Rozier continued his torrid pace from 3-point range by going 6 of 10, including a huge 3 with 34 seconds left to put the Hornets up by seven.
Rozier has made 36 3-pointers over the last eight games, while shooting 49.3% from beyond the arc.
&ldquo;Terry is a hired gun,&rdquo; Borrego said. &ldquo;He&rsquo;s an elite catch-and-shoot guy.&rdquo;
Charlotte led 47-41 at halftime after holding Antetokounmpo to eight points and the Bucks to 30.6% shooting in the first half.
Milwaukee trailed by 14 with 4:50 left in the game, but Antetokounmpo and Middleton brought them back, cutting the lead to four with 47.5 seconds left with a series of big baskets. It included an offensive rebound from Antetokounmpo, whose inadvertent flying elbow left Mason Plumlee with a cut above his eye.
But Rozier buried a crucial 3-pointer from the left wing to push the lead back to seven and keep the Bucks at a safe distance and Bridges put the game away with a fast-break layup for a three-point play with 10.7 seconds left.
&ldquo;I just know that the whole gym was staring at 'Melo, so I just tried to create some confusion for the defense. I just slipped out and I was wide open,&rdquo; Rozier said of his 3-pointer.
Milwaukee's Bobby Portis said he's been watching the Hornets a lot this season and has been impressed, calling them a fun up-tempo team with some marquee players in Ball and Bridges.
He also knows the Bucks are getting everyone's best effort this season.
&ldquo;We won last year, so every game for us is going to be a big game,&rdquo; said Portis, who had 19 points and 13 rebounds. &ldquo;Every game, teams are coming for us. So we got to compete at a high level each and every game.&rdquo;
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MORE OFFENSE NEEDED
Antetokounmpo, Middleton and Portis combined for 89 points and shot 29 of 54 from the field. But that trio didn't get much help from the rest of the team.
The other eight Milwaukee players who played were a combined 6 of 36 from the field and accounted for just 17 points.
OUBRE FINDING WAYS
Kelly Oubre had 18 points for the Hornets following a game where he had 32 points on a career-high nine 3-pointers &mdash; including an NBA record-tying eight in the fourth quarter &mdash; in a blowout win over the Detroit Pistons. He was just 2 of 11 from beyond the arc against the Bucks, but found other ways to be effective by slashing to the rim, sliding behind defenders on back cuts and running the court to finish on fast breaks.
TIP-INS
Bucks: Jrue Holiday, Grayson Allen, Pat Connaughton and George Hill did not play due to health and safety protocols, while Brook Lopez remained out while recovering from back surgery. ... Middleton had six turnovers.
Hornets: Shot 16 of 48 from 3-point range after making a franchise-record 24 3s on 42 attempts against the Pistons.

Terry Rozier led the Hornets with 28 points, grabbing a win over the Bucks despite Giannis' 43 and 12 effort.

Rozier, Hornets hand Bucks 3rd loss in last 4 games, 114-106

LaMelo Ball made the transition from playing basketball overseas to the NBA last season look fairly easy, breezing his way to rookie of the year honors.
Now Hornets coach James Borrego wants the point guard to take the next step.
For Borrego, that means the No. 3 overall pick in 2020 gaining a deeper understanding of who the Hornets are as a team, what to look for in certain in-game situations and taking on more of a leadership role through communication with his teammates.
&ldquo;I want him to take the reins of this program,&rdquo; Borrego said. &ldquo;He&rsquo;s the quarterback, the floor general and for us to take that next step he must run this team, not only on the offensive end but the defensive end as well.&rdquo;
The Hornets went 33-39 last season, finishing 10th in the East and losing to the Indiana Pacers in the play-in game. The bar is set a little higher this year with shooting guard Terry Rozier saying anything but the playoffs would be &ldquo;an absolute fail.&rdquo;
Borrego has been working closely with Ball in one-on-one sessions, stressing the importance of understanding situations.
For instance, if the Hornets are down 3 in the closing seconds, he wants Ball to know where Rozier and Gordon Hayward are on the floor and how to get them the ball. He wants him to know when to attack a defender off a pick and roll and when to pass. The coach wants his point guard to know when to walk the ball up the floor and when to push the tempo.
Because of the shortened offseason and a condensed regular season last year due to COVID-19, Ball didn't get a chance to learn much from coaches.
Borrego would often find himself yelling instructions to Ball from the bench.
He doesn't want to have to do that this year.
&ldquo;A lot of his success last year was based on instinct and feel,&rdquo; Borrego said. &ldquo;Now his next step is managing who we are, his personnel around him and understanding the league in general. So our conversation as been around our team, our strengths, our values and understanding his teammates.&rdquo;
Ball said he's &ldquo;definitely&rdquo; up to the challenge.
&ldquo;It&rsquo;s going over plays and stuff and watching film and knowing where to be at and where others players are to be,&rdquo; Ball said. &ldquo;It&rsquo;s leading the pack.&rdquo;
The brother of Chicago Bulls point guard Lonzo and free agent LiAngelo, LaMelo averaged 15.7 points. 6.1 assists and 5.9 rebounds last season and won rookie of the month honor three times.
There were concerns about his unorthodox 3-point stroke coming into the league, but he shot a respectable 37.5% from 3-point range through 41 games before breaking his wrist. He returned five weeks later, but could regularly be seen favoring the wrist and it clearly affected his shot. He made just 24.4% from beyond the arc over the final 10 games.
&ldquo;To say I was 100%? Nah,&rdquo; Ball said shaking his head.
But teammate Miles Bridges said Ball's shot looks great now and he's back to fearlessly attacking the rim &mdash; and looks ready to lead the Hornets.
&ldquo;Melo, he's still young,&rdquo; Bridges said. &ldquo;We sometimes forget that he's 20 years old. So he's doing a great job of being a leader on the offensive end. He's just communicating more and that's what we want to work on. It's not hard. He's a very vocal player. But just him just being comfortable with saying stuff" to other players.
Said Ball: &ldquo;That&rsquo;s a point guard. I&rsquo;m definitely going to lead. All of my life I've been leading. So it&rsquo;s a great position for me.&rdquo;
Borrego talks repeatedly about how much he enjoys coaching Ball and loves his enthusiasm.
He likes that Ball has been at every team function, attending a players-only trip to Miami earlier this offseason and traveling Las Vegas to watch the Summer League. The California native also spent the summer in Charlotte, dialed in on improving his game and developing chemistry with his teammates.
&ldquo;He is fully engaged and I love that about him," Borrego said. &ldquo;I expect a big year from him, and I expect him to take another step."

“I want him to take the reins of this program,” Hornets coach James Borrego said of LaMelo Ball making another leap for Charlotte.

Borrego: LaMelo Ball must take 'next step' for Hornets to win

The Charlotte Hornets identified the center position as their focus area this offseason.
They traded for Mason Plumlee, a solid rim roller and passing hub from the high post. They let longtime &mdash; and long-underrated &mdash; big man Cody Zeller go in free agency; he's off to Portland to screen for, and catch lobs from, Damian Lillard. Charlotte locker room favorite Bismack Biyombo is also out.
In the draft, the Hornets took a long-term swing on super-athlete Kai Jones. He's <a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/stories/selfaware-kai-jones-is-an-unfinished-product-and-wont-stop-learning" target="_blank" rel="noopener">ridiculously explosive with unreal physical traits</a>, but is likely a year or two away from being a positive impact guy. He joins Vernon Carey Jr. and Nick Richards in the Hornets' young stable of centers we're not quite sure what to expect from.
But what if the answer to the center question isn't a traditional center? What if it's third-year forward PJ Washington?
After rarely playing center in his rookie campaign, Washington nearly split his time between the 4 and 5 last season: a 54/46 split; let the good folks at <a href="https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/w/washipj01.html#pbp" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Basketball-Reference</a> tell it. The Hornets had a plus-3 net rating in nearly 900 minutes when Washington was on the floor without a center, per <a href="https://www.pbpstats.com/wowy-combos/nba?TeamId=1610612766&amp;Season=2020-21&amp;SeasonType=Regular%2BSeason&amp;PlayerIds=1629023,203469,202687,1630176" target="_blank" rel="noopener">PBP Stats</a>.&nbsp;
That's a pretty solid sample of positive minutes. It's even more impressive considering the up-and-down nature of Washington's season, at least from a shooting perspective.
The Hornets aren't in "prove it" territory as a whole; they're a young group that caught a lot of teams off guard last season with their breakneck pace and funky mixture of defensive coverages. It is fair, however, to say that the surprise element likely won't exist for them this year.
With the team's core being as young as it is, there is room for linear improvement, and thus another year of playoff contention. But because the shine has worn off a bit, and because the rest of the conference has improved, they'll need&nbsp;a step forward from their core to keep pace.
That may start with Washington.&nbsp;
THE FOUNDATION
I won't bore you by completely quoting myself from the <a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/stories/something-to-prove-jaren-jackson-jr-at-center" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Jaren Jackson Jr. piece</a>, but the same "All Unicorn bigs are not created equal" point remains. Washington isn't a unicorn, but his skill set is robust enough to make you raise your eyebrow when watching him.
Like Jackson, the intrigue begins from the outside with Washington. He got off to a slow shooting start last season (roughly 33% from deep over his first 24 games), then completely turned it around to close things out (nearly 41% on 5.3 attempts).&nbsp;
He doesn't possess Unicorn-like shot versatility, at least not yet. Washington only made four (4) threes coming off screens last season, per InStat tracking, and those were of the "receive a random pin-in and spot-up behind it" variety.
He does knock down spot-up looks with ease, and displays solid footwork on pick-and-pops. The foundation is there for him to do more movement stuff, and I'm intrigued by some of the self-created threes he took last season.
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That doesn't look like someone that can't get busy, that's for sure.
Teams can't afford to leave him open from deep. He invites aggressive close-outs on spot-up and pick-and-pop opportunities, then counters them with quick drives.
The best thing to say about Washington right now on that front is that he's a quick decision-maker off the catch. He's firing the shot, or immediately branching into a drive to keep the chain moving. For a Charlotte team that doesn't have a title-level number one option, maximizing windows with timeliness is key.&nbsp;
As a finisher, Washington has a solid feel for defender positioning. He attacks scrambling defenders well, pinpointing their front foot and sliding past with aggressive drives. He's a low driver, able to gain inside leverage with his shoulders to create some semblance of space. Counters are being added &mdash; he's gaining comfort with a spin move &mdash; but he's not all the way there yet.
His passing chops are also trending upward, particularly on drives. His pass percentage on drives jumped nearly five percentage points from last season (34.6 to 39.0), while his turnover rate rose marginally (7.9 to 9.5), per <a href="https://www.nba.com/stats/players/drives/?Season=2020-21&amp;SeasonType=Regular%20Season&amp;TeamID=1610612766&amp;sort=DRIVE_TOV_PCT&amp;dir=1" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Second Spectrum tracking data</a>. The path from chain-mover to playmaker is there.
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A big man that can legitimately shoot the ball while possessing the ball skills to get downhill and create for himself or others... that's a hard needle to thread. The guys that can do that have, or will, get paid handsomely.
The fact that Washington can provide plus-impact at the 5 while some of his skills are still unrefined (more on that shortly) bodes well for him and the Hornets as a whole.
ROOM FOR IMPROVEMENT
While it's perfectly okay that a big man on his rookie deal doesn't have it all together, it is&nbsp;important to note that Washington isn't there yet.
There are areas of refinement, like Washington's passing, where you squint but still feel okay about things overall. He's a quick decision-maker and generally makes the right reads. After going through his film, I struggle with calling him a good&nbsp;passer because the ball placement just isn't there.
The stationary stuff is fine. Once you incorporate movement &mdash; drive and kicks, or short-roll opportunities &mdash; the bag becomes a bit mixed. His tape is littered with high and/or wide dishes that take shooters out of rhythm. While it's nice to (quickly) identify a window, you ultimately have to hit the sucker. He doesn't do that enough right now.
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</div>
The more pressing issue is Washington on the interior, on both ends of the floor.
Offensively, a lack of vertical pop hinders him quite a bit as a finisher. Among 97 players to take at least 200 shots at the rim last season, Washington ranked 93rd in field goal percentage (54.6%) and 95th in the percentage of rim attempts he had blocked (15.8%), per <a href="https://www.pbpstats.com/totals/nba/player?Season=2020-21&amp;SeasonType=Regular%2BSeason" target="_blank" rel="noopener">PBP Stats</a>.&nbsp;
It's great that he understands how he has to win: with positioning, with craft and with a little bit of touch. It's a bit concerning that he needs those traits to the degree he does. If he isn't able to win a pure scramble drill, his attempts become infinitely more difficult.
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On the other end of the floor, Washington doesn't bring enough punch to operate as the primary big. Lateral mobility is his greatest strength defensively. It's necessary considering how often the Hornets switched last year, and how much ground he occasionally had to cover when they went to their many variations of zone.
He can legitimately hold his own against forwards and wings, and survive against sub-elite guards in a pinch. As a weak-side rotator, Washington is generally on time and on target.&nbsp;
Put Washington in a drop as the primary defender, and you'll see inconsistencies in his technique and depth, and the lack of vertical pop will rear its ugly head.
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On the stat side: 27 players defended at least five shots at the rim per game last season (min. 40 games played), <a href="https://www.nba.com/stats/players/defensive-impact/?Season=2020-21&amp;SeasonType=Regular%20Season&amp;sort=DEF_RIM_FG_PCT&amp;dir=1&amp;CF=DEF_RIM_FGA*GE*5:GP*GE*40" target="_blank" rel="noopener">per Second Spectrum</a>. Washington ranked 25th in field goal percentage allowed (65.2%), besting only Enes Kanter (65.3%) and Nikola Jokic (66.3%).&nbsp;
Jokic is probably the closest analog, oddly enough: a big man with squishy traits as a rim protector who makes up for it with activity. Both are high-steal guys for the position, but Jokic can also clean the glass at a high level (26.1% defensive rebound rate last season). Washington lags behind in that area (18.3%).
There is context to be added to both of those numbers. Washington has his flaws as a defender, but he was also tasked with covering for some of the worst point-of-attack defense in the league. There's a reason the Hornets experimented as much as they did defensively last season.
It's also difficult to post a high rebound rate when defending on the perimeter as much as Washington had to, and baked into all of this is that Washington split time between the 4 and 5 to begin with.&nbsp;
But if he's to log more minutes at the 5 specifically, he has to become a stronger presence inside. He isn't a bad defender on balance, but there's a step that needs to be taken.
If he's able to get there defensively, his offensive strengths will be accentuated. His shooting becomes even more deadly when he's removing a center from the paint. Driving lanes will become wider, opening more passing opportunities.&nbsp;
The Hornets only got 53 minutes out of the Ball-Rozier-Hayward-Bridges-Washington lineup last season; considering it was a positive (<a href="https://www.pbpstats.com/wowy-combos/nba?TeamId=1610612766&amp;Season=2020-21&amp;SeasonType=Regular%2BSeason&amp;PlayerIds=202330,1626179,1628970,1629023,1630163" target="_blank" rel="noopener">plus-5.4</a>), it's certainly worth exploring as a closing lineup this year. Washington being able to man the middle would allow that to happen.
Beyond the team success, Washington will be extension-eligible next offseason. A strong showing on both ends could wind up being fruitful for him.

Nekias Duncan continues his Something To Prove series by breaking down the film of Hornets big man PJ Washington.

Something To Prove: PJ Washington at center

Along the lines of which NBA player <a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/stories/nba-roundtable-which-player-has-surprised-you-in-the-first-month" target="_blank" rel="noopener">has suprised the most</a>, there is a curiosity surrounding who will actually take home a trophy for taking that next step from good to great.
While it's still very early, we asked our BasketballNews.com writers:
Who is your early favorite for the Most Improved Player award? 
Alex Kennedy: Miles Bridges has been sensational and I can absolutely see him winning the award if he keeps this up. He increased his scoring average by 8.9 points, and he&rsquo;s currently posting career-highs in points (21.6), rebounds (7.6), assists (3.4), steals (1.4), blocks (0.8), threes (2.4), player efficiency rating (18.9) and box plus/minus (+2.0). While some players get off to a hot start and then inevitably fizzle out, Bridges&rsquo; terrific play may just be sustainable. After all, he had a similarly impressive stretch toward the end of last season. Over the final 20 games of the 2020-21 campaign, the 23-year-old averaged 19.8 points, 6.8 rebounds, 3.0 threes, 2.8 assists, 1.0 block, 0.8 steals and 1.8 turnovers (while shooting 51.1% from the field, 43.5% from three and 83.9% from the free-throw line). Bridges&rsquo; production isn&rsquo;t some fluke, so don&rsquo;t be surprised if he continues to shine and takes home Most Improved.
Nekias Duncan: Ja Morant has given me pause, but I'm rolling with <a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/stories/og-anunoby-is-putting-an-early-stamp-on-mip-race" target="_blank" rel="noopener">my preseason pick</a> &mdash; OG Anunoby. He's taken on much more on-ball responsibility and is holding his own. To become a 20-point scorer on a whim without sacrificing the defense &mdash; he's still hounding dudes at an All-Defensive team level &mdash; is wildly impressive.
Spencer Davies: Despite the Memphis Grizzlies&rsquo; inconsistencies as a team, Ja Morant is probably leading the charge. He&rsquo;s on track to make his first All-Star team with the kind of production he&rsquo;s putting forth &mdash; 25.1 points, 7.0 assists and a career-best 5.9 rebounds per contest. Adding the three-ball and willingly pulling up from distance, that makes him an entirely different threat as an offensive player. If the opposition begins to respect that outside shot and defends him too closely, with the agility and quick decision-making Morant possesses, it&rsquo;s going to be a long night for them. The Grizzlies really need to shore up that defense first, but No. 12 is on a tear.
Ethan Fuller: Miles Bridges is the leading scorer on a Charlotte Hornets team loaded with offensive firepower. That's a testament to his improvement creating for himself off the dribble. Bridges has produced more as a passer and rebounder, and is taking on a much larger role than the pure shooter and cutter he was in years past. As he acclimates to the increased responsibility, Bridges should see his efficiency go up and only solidify his MIP case.
Jannelle Moore: Miles Bridges is my early favorite for MIP. He has consistently stepped up as the Hornets' first scoring option. He's improved his shot and improved defensively, and has been more consistent than other players that have been up for consideration.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-theme="dark">
🔥 Career-high for Miles Bridges 🔥 35 PTS | 10 REB | 50.5 FPTS <a href="https://t.co/IJXfKPXogI">pic.twitter.com/IJXfKPXogI</a>
&mdash; NBA Fantasy (@NBAFantasy) <a href="https://twitter.com/NBAFantasy/status/1462257951822032898?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 21, 2021</a></blockquote>

<script src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script>

Moke Hamilton: It&rsquo;s a two-man race between Miles Bridges and Jordan Poole, right? I lean Bridges. He&rsquo;s been more productive, and is also being relied upon a bit more heavily than Poole. I'm not sure who else could rightfully claim to be pushing those two right now.
Evan Sidery: I&rsquo;m going with Miles Bridges because his all-around growth has been so impressive to me. Ja Morant is likely the consensus favorite, but we all knew he had superstar upside. On the other hand, who expected this leap from Bridges? He&rsquo;s established himself as a primary core piece alongside LaMelo Ball in Charlotte.
Blake Hairston: Miles Bridges is the first to mind. The jump he's made from last season to this season is impressive, and he's really exuding confidence on a team that's looking to make some noise this year. If he can maintain 20-plus points per game on relative efficiency and career-highs in numerous statistical categories, then it's got to be his award.
Alexander Cohen: Miles Bridges has always been capable of having explosive games, but him scoring over 21 per game after scoring 13 a night the last two seasons has caught me off guard. He's been a great scorer in the early season, and just when it looked like he was cooling off, Bridges dropped a career-high 35 points in Atlanta. He had three 30-plus point games in his three-year career coming into this season and has five already in just 18 games. If Bridges can keep up this level of play, the Hornets' future becomes much brighter, and Bridges should run away with Most Improved.
Drew Maresca: It has to be between Miles Bridges and Ja Morant. Bridges is averaging 21.6 points, 7.6 rebounds, 3.4 assists, and 1.4 steals per game on 45.8% from the floor for the surprise Hornets (10-8). That&rsquo;s up from 12.7 points, 6.0 rebounds, and a 2.2 assists per game last season. Bridges' jump to stardom is impressive. But it's not quite as impressive as Morant&rsquo;s entry to superstardom. Though just 8-8 through 16 games, Morant has has averaged 25.1 points, 7.0 assists and 5.9 rebounds per game, while shooting 36.8% on three-point attempts. Last season, Morant averaged 19.1 points, 7.4 assists and 4.0 rebounds per game, shooting 30.3% on three-pointers. Both of these guys will remain on radar for the foreseeable future.
Jesse Blancarte: Ja Morant's leap has been extremely fun to watch.

Who is your early favorite for the Most Improved Player award? BasketballNews.com's writers shared their thoughts.

NBA Roundtable: Who is your early favorite for Most Improved Player?

Anthony Edwards, Jaylen Brown and Miles Bridges all reportedly declined to participate in this year's Slam Dunk Contest.&nbsp;
Source: <a href="https://sports.yahoo.com/how-zion-williamson-can-provided-a-necessary-jolt-leading-up-to-sundays-all-star-game-174843965.html?ncid=twitter_yahoosport_dw14wrbb51g" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Chris Haynes/Yahoo Sports</a>
ANALYSIS:&nbsp;The NBA continues to struggle attracting marquee names to the Slam Dunk Contest. But they have secured bids from three notable high fliers in Knicks rookie Obi Toppin, Blazers guard Anfernee Simons and Pacers rookie Cassius Stanley. Zion Williamson, who would be a major addition to the lineup, has not made a decision yet. The Dunk Contest will take place at halftime of the All-Star game on March 7.
Stephen Curry is also expected to enter the league's three-point shooting contest, while top rookie LaMelo Ball has reportedly declined to participate in the Skills Challenge.

Obi Toppin, Anfernee Simons and Cassius Stanley are the current entrants.

Anthony Edwards, Jaylen Brown declined Dunk Contest offers

The Charlotte Hornets have so much promise, but a major fundamental issue is beginning to take over their season. After another ugly blowout loss to the Phoenix Suns 137-106 on Sunday, it was the latest showcase of an embarrassing defensive effort from Charlotte.
This is such a fun group oozing with NBA League Pass potential, but you can tell constantly that a lack of any consistent defense will eventually hold this team back from doing anything strong throughout the 2021-22 season. Charlotte has the worst Defensive Rating in the Association, allowing 114.8 points per 100 possessions, as it clings to a .500 record at 16-16.
Without a change on the horizon, the ship feels like it&rsquo;s beginning to sink on the Hornets' early-season promise.
LaMelo Ball is so fun to watch, as he takes a Year 2 leap to stardom. Miles Bridges continues to keep his name in the race as a serious contender for Most Improved Player, averaging 19.8 points per game. Outside of those two building blocks, there&rsquo;s a ton of inexperience and inconsistency.
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It&rsquo;s time shake things up one way or another before the Hornets&rsquo; season falls below where their true ceiling could be. After their 31-point defeat to the juggernaut Suns, Bridges and Kelly Oubre Jr. spoke a similar tune with what went wrong.
&ldquo;We were getting good shots in the first quarter but, we were just missing. We let our offense dictate our defense,&rdquo; Bridges said postgame. &ldquo;That&rsquo;s just something we got to get better at cause that&rsquo;s losing us games. Our offense dictating our defense. We still got to come in whether we&rsquo;re missing shots, making shots, we still got to come in and guard people otherwise its going to be a long night every game.&rdquo;
Oubre, a former Sun who was known for his two-way prowess during his stint in the Valley, is a well-known energizer. As the Hornets&rsquo; sixth man, watching from the bench the whole vibe seems completely off right now. And honestly, Oubre&rsquo;s lack of effort on the defensive end, on top of other veterans seemingly going through the motions, was one of my biggest takeaways from their shellacking in Phoenix.
&ldquo;Honestly, its that juice, that energy.&rdquo; Oubre said. &ldquo;Playing desperate like we did in the second half against Portland. I think we have to consistently do that every game because we have to go harder than the other teams we face. Its mono-e-mono. Whoever goes the hardest wins, and if we don&rsquo;t come out setting the tone, it trickles down the next three quarters.&rdquo;
Over the last decade, Charlotte is right near the worst mark for a team defensively. If it doesn&rsquo;t improve, it will continue to nosedive to more depressingly epic proportions. When looking over the list Charlotte is in, the main theme is youthful teams with one outlier being a team who was kept afloat thanks to a superstar.
<ol>
<li>2018-19 Cavs (19-63) = 116.8 DTRG</li>
<li>2020-21 Kings (31-41) = 116.5 DRTG</li>
<li>2020-21 Blazers (42-30) = 115.3 DRTG</li>
<li>2021-22 Hornets (16-16*) = 114.8 DRTG</li>
<li>2019-20 Cavs (19-46) = 114.8 DRTG</li>
</ol>
<img src="https://cdn.basketballnews.com/images/story/body/usatsi_17387817_lg.jpg" alt="" width="575" height="412" />
Nine of the Hornets&rsquo; 16 wins this season have come when they've scored 120 or more points, and in almost each instance they&rsquo;ve needed that much in the end to pull off the victory. A formula of outscoring teams where the first one to 125 points gets the W simply isn&rsquo;t a sustainable recipe for success &mdash; especially over a full 82-game schedule.
Charlotte&rsquo;s starting lineup is beautiful to watch when it&rsquo;s humming at full speed. LaMelo is doing LaMelo things. Bridges&rsquo; athleticism is overpowering defenders, and he's also improving his shooting range. Hayward and Mason Plumlee are capable tertiary playmakers that set up Ball and Terry Rozier on both drives and around the perimeter. When it&rsquo;s fully in motion, the Hornets are absolutely a must-watch team.
However, when it&rsquo;s ugly like it was on Sunday against the Suns, you really begin to realize just how desperate this team is in need of a shakeup. So far this season, the Hornets&rsquo; starters are being outscored by 5.0 points per 100 possessions in 205 total minutes. And though Hornets head coach James Borrego's experiment &mdash; <a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/stories/pj-washington-buying-into-being-hornets-super-sub-5-man" target="_blank" rel="noopener">P.J. Washington playing small-ball five</a> in place of Plumlee &mdash; gives an offensive boost, it is a total disaster on the other end; the starters-plus-Washington lineup is carrying a negative-9.2 Net Rating.
<div class="mceNonEditable"><spike>&nbsp;</spike></div>
Whatever the Hornets are trying to do to be competent on defense, it&rsquo;s simply not working at all. One idea I&rsquo;ve been hammering for weeks now is <a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/stories/examining-potential-trade-destinations-for-myles-turner" target="_blank" rel="noopener">making an aggressive push for Indiana Pacers center Myles Turner</a>, one of the NBA&rsquo;s best shot blockers and rim-protectors. Turner would be the ideal all-in move to add a third piece to build around Ball and Bridges long-term in Charlotte.
The current outlook for the 2021-22 Hornets is a team that starts off hot, but quickly dissipates into a disappointment and wins around 35 games. If the Hornets don&rsquo;t try to mix things up, their defense will continue to swirl down the drain to unwatchable levels.
&ldquo;The goal right now is to stay together, stay positive, stay optimistic, keep our heads up and move forward,&rdquo; Borrego said.
Time is running out for the Hornets to find a solution. Whichever route they decide upon will be critical for their short and long-term success.

The Hornets have some real potential to make noise soon. However, their lack of defense is sinking the entire operation.

Hornets' embarrassing defense sinking their enticing potential

The memory of <a href="https://apnews.com/article/nc-state-wire-new-orleans-pelicans-charlotte-hornets-indiana-pacers-nba-5c841741da2881b5618e14d52e7a05f7" target="_blank" rel="noopener">an embarrassing 144-117 loss</a> to the Indiana Pacers in the NBA play-in game last May is never far from the mind of Miles Bridges and many of his returning Charlotte Hornets teammates.
&ldquo;Every time I got tired this summer during a drill, I thought about that game,&rdquo; Bridges said. &ldquo;We can&rsquo;t take any games for granted this season.&rdquo;
Bridges looks back on the loss as a &ldquo;blessing it disguise&rdquo; as it has served as a lesson for just how far the Hornets need to go to become a winning franchise. Charlotte hasn&rsquo;t been in a playoff series since the 2015-16 season and hasn&rsquo;t won one in two decades.
But the Hornets believe that&rsquo;s all about to change.
Guard Terry Rozier said if the Hornets don't make the postseason this year it will be an &ldquo;absolute fail.&rdquo;
The Hornets rose to fourth place in the Eastern Conference standings last year but then things fell apart.
It began with the loss of veteran leader Gordon Hayward, who missed the final six weeks with a foot injury. LaMelo Ball then fractured his wrist, losing a month of his NBA rookie of the year season. And the ever-improving Bridges entered the league's heath and safety protocols, the final blow for a team that would finish 33-39 and in 10th place in the East.
But the Hornets are healthy now and have added veteran center Mason Plumlee and forward Kelly Oubre Jr. via free agency along with guard James Bouknight and forward Kai Jones in the first round of the NBA draft.
Hayward's health of Hayward and <a href="https://apnews.com/article/nba-sports-lamelo-ball-charlotte-basketball-2f411fe2a30f52d11406b048eabecf8e">continued development of Ball </a> as a point guard and team leader stand front and center as key to Charlotte's success this season.
Coach James Borrego said there is a &ldquo;great vibe and chemistry&rdquo; with the team, noting a team get-together this offseason in Miami which everyone attended &mdash; including team owner Michael Jordan &mdash; and the number of players who stayed in Charlotte this summer to workout together.
&ldquo;This group really enjoys each other," Borrego said. "The halls are alive and active.&rdquo;
Some other things to know as the Hornets prepare for the 2021-22 season:
STARTING LINEUP
The Hornets appear to have settled on a starting lineup consisting of Ball and Rozier at guard, Hayward and Bridges at forward and Plumlee at center. That means P.J. Washington will be coming off the bench, along with Oubre.
ROOKIE IMPACT
Don&rsquo;t be surprised if Bouknight and Jones have immediate and important roles with the Hornets.
Bouknight brings some much needed natural scoring ability at all three levels and Jones is athletic, runs the floor with youthful exuberance and said he is the type of player who wants to &ldquo;dunk everything.&rdquo;
When Jones arrived in Charlotte he asked if he could wear No. 23 &mdash; the same number worn by Jordan when he won six NBA titles with the Chicago Bulls.
&ldquo;At first everyone was like, &lsquo;Uh, just give us a second...&rsquo;&rdquo; Jones said with a loud laugh. &ldquo;And then everything was cleared.&rdquo;
HAYWARD'S MINUTES
The Hornets say they will closely monitor Hayward's minutes in an effort to navigate him through an 82-game season. That could include sitting out a few games altogether for body management.
&ldquo;He looks great, feels great, his body is in great shape, physically he is ready to go,&rdquo; Borrego said. &ldquo;... Will he play 82 games? I don&rsquo;t know. We will have to figure that out as we go. ... It will be a week-to-week basis of how we manage him.&rdquo;
BALL'S DEFENSE
Borrego said Ball's defense is something that had to improve, and he believes the 20-year-old has made good strides.
&ldquo;You can&rsquo;t just have a good possession defensively and then the next you relax," Borrego said. &ldquo;To win in this league, you have to be consistent.&rdquo;
ROZIER IS READY
Rozier has become the emotional leader of the Hornets since coming over in a trade that sent the franchise's all-time leader scorer Kemba Walker to Boston and the player most likely to take a potential game-winning shot.
While Rozier was viewed as a throw-in piece at the time of the trade, he has put up numbers right in line with Walker, upping his scoring average from 18 points per game two years ago to 20.4 last season. The Hornets rewarded him with four-year, $97 million max contract extension earlier this offseason.

The Hornets rose to fourth place in the Eastern Conference standings last year but then things fell apart.

Hornets say play-in loss motivation to end playoff drought

Tommy Beer checks in with an installment of BasketballNews.com's NBA Power Rankings.

NBA Power Rankings: New Year's Resolutions for each team

Several marquee players who were expected to hit the open market in 2022 have signed extensions, so next summer's free-agent crop isn't nearly as star-studded as other classes.
However, there are still plenty of quality players who may be up for grabs. In this three-part series, we&rsquo;ll examine the best players who will potentially enter free agency next July.&nbsp;
After previously <a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/stories/2022-nba-freeagent-rankings-harden-beal-among-top10-guards" target="_blank" rel="noopener">ranking the best guards set to hit free agency next summer</a>, let's examine the top free-agent forwards ready to enter the open market in 2021.&nbsp;
1. Michael Porter Jr. - Denver Nuggets - Restricted
Due to a back injury sustained in college, Porter Jr. was considered a boom-or-bust prospect when the <a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/stories/how-michael-porter-jr-became-a-star-after-career-ending-diagnosis" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Nuggets selected him with the 14th overall pick</a> in the 2018 draft. Well, three years later, MPJ has boomed. After Jamal Murray tore his ACL last season, Porter emerged as Denver's second option alongside Nikola Jokic and exceeded even lofty expectations. Over a 25-game stretch from late March through mid-May, MPJ averaged a whopping 24.0 points, 7.4 rebounds and 3.4 made three-pointers, while shooting a scorching 56.9% from the floor, 47.2% from downtown and 82.5% at the free-throw line. After the season, Denver's president of basketball operations <a href="https://www.denverpost.com/2021/06/18/nuggets-tim-connelly-michael-porter-jr-s-extension-jamal-murrays-return/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Tim Connelly said</a>: "Our M.O. is when we can, we try to lock guys up and reward them for what they've done." According to a <a href="https://www.denverpost.com/2021/06/18/nuggets-tim-connelly-michael-porter-jr-s-extension-jamal-murrays-return" target="_blank" rel="noopener">report by the Denver Post</a>, Connelly and his staff want to reach a contract extension with MPJ rather than have him hit the market as a restricted free agent next summer. However, per the report, "given Porter's history of back injuries, it's likely the Nuggets add some type of provision to help protect them." Porter is eligible for a five-year, $168 million extension.&nbsp;
2. Mikal Bridges - Phoenix Suns - Restricted
Another member of the 2018 draft class, Bridges isn't as offensively gifted as Porter Jr., but he has established himself as a <a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/stories/nba-mikal-bridges-phoenix-suns-breakout-season-three-point-shooting-pick-and-roll-defense-deandre-ayton-turnover-percentage-monty-williams-chris-paul-villanova-jay-wright-ashley-howard" target="_blank" rel="noopener">phenomenally well-rounded player and integral part of a Suns team</a> that advanced all the way to the NBA Finals last season. In the process, Bridges averaged a career-high 13.5 points, 4.3 rebounds and 1.9 threes while posting a True Shooting percentage of 66.7%. <a href="https://www.espn.com/nba/insider/story/_/id/31361074/lowe-ten-nba-things-like-including-limitless-flair-nikola-jokic-beef-stew-bully-ball" target="_blank" rel="noopener">According to ESPN's Zach Lowe</a>, rival executives expect Bridges to secure a deal in the neighborhood of $20 million per season on his next contract.
3. Joe Ingles - Utah Jazz - Unrestricted 
Ingles matched a career-high last season by averaging 12.1 points per game to go along with 4.7 assists, 3.6 rebounds, 0.7 steals and a career-best 2.7 made three-pointers per game. He finished the year ranked fifth among qualified players in three-point percentage (45.1%) and posted a phenomenal True Shooting percentage of 67.2% (with a 48.9/51.3/84.4 slash line), which was the third-best mark in the NBA and best among non-centers. In a league that places a high value on efficient scoring, Ingles' skill set is a highly sought-after commodity.&nbsp;
4. T.J. Warren - Indiana Pacers - Unrestricted 
<img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="https://cdn.basketballnews.com/images/story/body/usatsi_15375124_lg.jpg" alt="" width="531" height="354" />
At the end of the 2019-20 season, Warren was playing the best basketball of his career. Over the six games the Pacers played in the Orlando bubble, Warren averaged 31.0 points, 6.3 boards and 3.7 made treys, while shooting over 57% from the floor and 52% from downtown. Unfortunately, that's the <a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/stories/a-100-million-payday-awaits-tj-warren-if-he-continues-to-silence-the-critics" target="_blank" rel="noopener">last time we've seen him healthy</a>. He appeared in just four games last season before undergoing surgery for a stress fracture in his foot in January. Worse yet, the Pacers announced earlier this month that Warren's recovery from the surgery has been slower than anticipated, and he will remain sidelined indefinitely. Warren will have to prove he is healthy over the second half of the 2021-22 season to boost his stock before hitting the open market.&nbsp;
5. Miles Bridges - Charlotte Hornets - Restricted 
After a relatively slow start to the 2020-21 campaign, Bridges exploded over the season's final six weeks. With LaMelo Ball, Gordon Hayward and Malik Monk all sidelined by injuries late in the year, Bridges was a focal point of the Hornets' offense. Over his final 15 games, Bridges averaged 21.0 points, 6.9 rebounds, 3.1 assists, 1.1 blocks and 3.1 made three-pointers while shooting over 50% from the floor, 42% from downtown and 84% from the charity stripe. If the Hornets don't sign Bridges to an extension, he'll be a restricted free agent next summer.&nbsp;
6. Kevin Huerter - Atlanta Hawks - Restricted
This offseason, the Hawks locked up both Trae Young (five-year, $207 million extension) and John Collins (five-year $125 million contract). Will they be able to come to an extension agreement with Huerter as well? In early August, Atlanta general manager Travis Schlenk told reporters the team would speak with Huerter's representatives: "His agent wanted to wait a little bit and get all his free agents signed before he went into extensions &mdash; less time-sensitive matters like the extension &mdash; but certainly his agent and Kevin are hoping to have that dialogue, and certainly we are as well. Our intention is to try and get something done with Kevin, for sure." <a href="https://www.si.com/nba/hawks/news/what-to-expect-from-kevin-huerters-ongoing-contract-negotiations" target="_blank" rel="noopener">According to Sports Illustrated</a>, "there is speculation that Huerter could garner between $15-$20 million a season."
7. Thaddeus Young - San Antonio Spurs - Unrestricted 
Young proved last season in Chicago that he is still capable of playing at a high level. In his age-32 season last year, Young averaged 12.1 points (on 55.9% shooting), 6.2 rebounds, 1.1 steals and 0.6 blocks in just 24.3 minutes a night off the bench. Most notably, he dished out a career-high 4.3 assists per game. Young had the highest plus/minus (+4.1) of any rotational regular on the Bulls roster, and Chicago was outscored by 5.9 points per 100 possessions with Young on the bench. Expect plenty of contenders to try and pry Young loose from San Antonio at the trade deadline next winter.&nbsp;
8. Blake Griffin - Brooklyn Nets - Unrestricted 
<img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="https://cdn.basketballnews.com/images/story/body/usatsi_16053035_lg.jpg" alt="" width="531" height="335" />
After a disappointing two years in Detroit, Griffin reached a buyout agreement with the Pistons last March, enabling him to join the Nets. He signed with Brooklyn on March 8 and <a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/stories/blake-griffin-on-exit-from-pistons-nodunksin464days-narrative" target="_blank" rel="noopener">looked like a new player</a>, as Griffin averaged 10.0 points, 4.7 rebounds and 2.4 assists in 26 appearances. Over the final three games of Brooklyn's playoff series vs. the Bucks, Griffin averaged 15.3 points (on 58% shooting), 6.7 rebounds and 2.3 made treys. He signed a one-year deal with the Nets for the 2021-22 campaign and will hit the free-agent market again next offseason.&nbsp;
9. Marvin Bagley III - Sacramento Kings - Restricted
Unfortunately for Kings fans, after three years in the league, Bagley is probably best known as being the player selected ahead of Luka Doncic and Trae Young. While both Doncic and Young have led their teams to the postseason and secured $200+ million max extensions, Bagley has been unable to stay healthy (appearing in just 118 out of a possible 230 games since being drafted), and has seen his scoring average decrease in each of the past three seasons. However, Bagley won't turn 23 until March of next year and is blessed with the rare combination of size and athleticism that led to him being selected second overall in the 2018 draft. Assuming he doesn't ink an extension, Bagley will look to boost his stock by staying on the floor long enough to showcase his skill set in 2021-22.
10. Kyle Anderson - Memphis Grizzlies - Unrestricted 
It seems as though he's been around forever, but Anderson is just 27 years old and is coming off the best all-around campaign of his career. The man affectionately nicknamed "Slow-Mo" averaged a career-high 12.4 points last season to go along with 5.7 rebounds, 3.6 assists, 1.2 steals and 1.4 made three-pointers in 27.3 minutes per contest. Only three other players in the league matched or exceeded those per-game averages in each of those statistical categories: Kawhi Leonard, LaMelo Ball and James Harden.&nbsp;
Best of the Rest 
Robert Covington, Otto Porter Jr., P.J. Tucker, Jeremy Lamb, Derrick Jones Jr., Carmelo Anthony, Nicolas Batum (player option), Bobby Portis (player option), Al-Farouq Aminu, Andre Iguodala, Taurean Prince

Tommy Beer ranks the top players who could be available as part of the 2022 free-agent class. Today, he examines the top-10 forwards.

2022 NBA Free-Agent Rankings: Bridges, Bagley among top-10 forwards

Devin Booker had 16 points in his return to Phoenix's lineup and the NBA-leading Suns set a season-scoring high in a 137-106 victory over the Charlotte Hornets on Sunday night.
After missing seven games because of a hamstring injury, Booker played 26 minutes, and sat out the fourth quarter with Phoenix well ahead. The Suns improved to 24-5, moving a half-game ahead of Golden State.
Phoenix had nine players score in double figures. Javale McGee had 19 points in 16 minutes off the bench, and Mikal Bridges also scored 16 points. Deandre Ayton had 15 points and 15 rebounds. Landry Shamet also scored 15 points, Jae Crowder and Chris Paul had 14 each, Cam Johnson 12 and Cameron Payne 11.
Phoenix was 20 of 41 on 3-pointers and shot 56.8% overall.
Miles Bridges had 26 points for Charlotte, and former Sun Kelly Oubre Jr. had 16. LaMelo Ball had nine points, 10 rebounds and seven assists, but was 2 of 12 from the field and 1 of 6 from behind the arc.
The Suns never trailed, leading 37-15 after the first quarter and by 36 in the third. In the opening period, Ayton had nine points and nine rebounds and Mikal Bridges scored eight points. Phoenix shot 56% from the floor and was 6 of 10 from 3-point range.
Charlotte made just six shots in the quarter, shooting 21%. The Hornets converted just 1 of 11 3-point tries. Ball was scoreless on six shots in the quarter.
Phoenix, which has won 14 straight at home after losing its first two, scored a season-high 39 points in the third quarter. They had scored 37 in two previous games.
Miles Bridges had 26 points for Charlotte, and former Sun Kelly Oubre Jr. had 16. LaMelo Ball had nine points, 10 rebounds and seven assists, but was just 2 of 12 from the field and 1 of 6 from behind the arc. Ball was scoreless on six shots in the first quarter.
COVID CONCERNS
Hornets forard Cody Martin was placed in the NBA&rsquo;s health and safety protocol on Sunday, but there were no other players affected. Three games were postponed league-wide Sunday.
&ldquo;Everybody&rsquo;s trying to do their best,&rdquo; Suns coach Monty Williams said. &ldquo;We want to coach and play but we&rsquo;re all dealing with it. It&rsquo;s affecting everybody. Every time you hit refresh there&rsquo;s a new person in the protocol. It&rsquo;s unfortunate but we&rsquo;ve dealt with it also.&rdquo;
The game was played with two game officials. Zach Zerba and Eric Dalen, originally scheduled, were held out of the game. Brent Barnaky, the other scheduled referee, was joined by NBA referee Bill Kennedy, who lives in the Phoenix area.
COACHING COHORTS
Williams and Charlotte&rsquo;s James Borrego worked together as assistants with San Antonio, and Borrego was on Williams&rsquo; staff in New Orleans.
&ldquo;I learned a lot from Monty," Borrego said. "He&rsquo;s a great leader, a great man. I&rsquo;m thrilled for him where he has his program.&rdquo;
As for Williams, he thinks Borrego doesn&rsquo;t get enough credit for Charlotte playing much better this season.
"You don&rsquo;t hear him being talked about as much as he should be.&rdquo; Williams said
NEXT
Hornets: At Utah on Monday night.
Suns: Art Los Angeles Lakers on Tuesday night.

Devin Booker had 16 points in his return to Phoenix's lineup and the NBA-leading Suns set a season-scoring high in a 137-106 victory.

Miles