Winners in Atlanta, the Hornets are getting closer to 10 out of 10!

The great adventure continues for Hornetswho sealed their ninth straight win on the night by leaving Atlanta victorious in a close game from start to finish. It was really necessary to resist the 31 points, 9 rebounds and 8 assists of Jalen Johnson and the attacks of the Alexander-Walker-Risacher-Okongwu trio. But this Charlotte team is riding a historic streak and has gained enough confidence in recent weeks to look for a win again.

Even fueled by the outside play of Zacharie Risacher early in the game and then CJ McCollum to take a 9-point lead (28-19), the Hawks were never able to shake off these Hornets in “sticky” mode. The Bridges-Miller duo quickly allowed Charles Lee’s team back into the game. Then LaMelo Ball, then Conn Knueppel, kept Charlotte in the home team’s lead, until Josh Green with two 3-point baskets gave the franchise from North Carolina the lead just before the break (55-57).

With confidence, LaMelo Ball and Kon Knuepel multiplied their results after returning from the locker room, until the younger brother of Lonca Ball took the action out of the match, with a lobbed pass for the devastating alley-oop of Miles Bridges (73-77). Despite Brandon Miller’s three-pointer that put his team at +7, Atlanta regained the momentum by relying on Nickil Alexander-Walker, Jalen Johnson, then Zachary Rizacher, whose three-pointer and then Brandon Miller’s counter helped the Hawks regain the lead (88-85). But it was the Hornets who finished the fourth quarter the strongest, with a 13-2 that marked an authoritarian 2+1, then a three-pointer by Grant Williams, and finally a three-pointer by Tre Mann to bring his team to +8 (90-98)!

With their backs against the wall after LaMelo Ball’s 3-pointer to attack the final act, Atlanta found the resources to get back into the race, relying on the leadership of Jalen Johnson to make a 3-pointer, dunk to wake up State Farm Arena, then connect in front of Miles Bridges to score two more points (102-102). Hawks’ salvation could have come after Zachary Rizacher’s three-pointer (108-105), but Charlotte dominated in the last minutes.

It was the Bridges-Diabate duo that essentially ended Atlanta’s hopes. The first dunked huge and then drove before Moussa Diabate left the court for two big dunks that forced Atlanta to go down first (110-115). Miles Bridges then had enough nerve to get the job done, between his pass for Kon Knuepel’s 3-pointer and his 4/4 shooting. So much so that after Dyson Daniels’ huge miss with 117-120, the Hornets were no longer worried and won, 126 to 119.

WHAT TO REMEMBER

Twenty seven years later…The Hornets have won nine games in a row… The Hornets have been waiting for this for a long time! We have to go back to April 21, 1999 to find traces of a nine-game winning streak, following their 88-85 win against the Grant Hill Pistons. Coincidentally with the calendar, Charlotte will have a chance to aim for 10/10 this season in their next game tomorrow night…against Detroit. Now 10th in the East, Charles Lee’s men are just one win away from Atlanta, 9th.

Miles Bridges Finale. The Hornets winger was in all the right moves in “money-time”. During the rather indecisive end of the match, the winger was a constant benchmark for his team and knew how to make the right choices, finishing with another outstanding volley, but also on the pass for Kon Knuepel’s three-pointer, not forgetting his precious 4/4 throw, despite the pressure. This is also what has been Charlotte’s strength since the beginning of her series: danger can come from anywhere.

You shouldn’t make Moussa Diabate angry! Charles Lee knows he can count on plenty of energy from his 5 position, whether he’s wrangling the rebound or finishing near the circle. Buoyed by an early mix-up with Onyeka Okongwu in the first half, the Frenchman responded with 11 points and 15 rebounds. We will especially remember his six points in a row at the start of “money-time” that broke the morale of the Hawks.

Zacharia Risacher in relation to the melody. After returning 0/8 against Utah, the French winger found his way last night. Of course, it wasn’t all perfect, like this foul block that cost the Hawks three points, but the sophomore definitely showed a better face, finishing with 18 points in 23 minutes, 4/4 on 3-pointers (7/10 shooting) with 3 rebounds and 3 blocks.

How to read statistics? Min = Minute; Shots = Shots Successful / Shots Attempted; 3 points = 3 points / attempt 3 points; LF = free throws made / free throws attempted; O = offensive rebound; D=defensive jump; T = Total number of jumps; Pd = assists; Fte: Personal mistakes; Int = intercepts; Bp = lost balls; Ct: Against; +/- = point difference when the player is on the court; Points = Points; Rating: player rating calculated based on positive actions – negative actions.