At The Hive

Photo by Jared C. Tilton/ After all of the flirting, wouldn’t it be nice to get above .500? The Charlotte Hornets go into the All-Star break with a 17-18 record, which is as close to .500 as they can be at this point. Over the team’s last 11 games they have done everything in their power to hover close to breakeven without going over by alternating wins and losses in a statistically remarkable fashion. Take a look at the bizarre win-loss pattern the Hornets have woven in recent games: Win - Feb 8 vs. Houston Rockets Loss - Feb 10 at Memphis Grizzlies Win - Feb...

Photo by Hannah Foslien/ The Hornets rode a strong second half into an easy victory over the league’s worst team. Terry Rozier scored 31 points thanks in large part to an explosive second quarter as the Charlotte Hornets ran away from the Minnesota Timberwolves in the second half to head into the All Star break with a win, 135-102. Gordon Hayward came out and played like a man who’s had a few days off and scored 10 quick points for the good guys. The Hornets didn’t play with that same energy on the other end of the floor as they dug a double digit hole for...

Jim Dedmon-USA TODAY Sports The Hornets wrap up the first half of their schedule. What’s this? A game that starts at a reasonable hour? Haven’t had one of these in a while. After this, the Hornets get a full seven days to rest. This is now an open thread!

Jim Dedmon-USA TODAY Sports The Hornets take on the NBA’s worst team before heading into the All Star break. What: Charlotte Hornets (16-18) at Minnesota Timberwolves (7-28) When: 8:00 pm EST Where: Target Center; Minneapolis, MN How to watch: Fox Sports Southeast, NBA League Pass The Hornets have alternated wins and losses for their last ten games. The last of those entries was a loss, so that means tonight’s game is a win. It is decided. Preview is over. But for real, tonight’s game against the Timberwolves is a great opportunity for the Hornets to finish the...

Jeremy Brevard-USA TODAY Sports James and Chase are joined by former ATH writer Nick Denning. At The Hive writers Chase Whitney and James Plowright are back for episode four of ATH Live. This week, they discuss The Athletic’s Sam Vecenie’s NBA prospect rankings, three Hornets were ranked among the top-50 “prospects” (most players on a rookie contract) in the league before discussing James Borrego’s tenure as Hornets head coach and the likelihood of seeing LaMelo Ball and/or Miles Bridges in the skills challenge and dunk contest during All-Star weekend. To end...

Photo by Sam Forencich/NBAE via Portland set a franchise record with 24 made 3-pointers Despite a stat sheet-stuffing performance from LaMelo Ball, the Charlotte Hornets dropped a game to the Portland Trail Blazers, 123-111. These are two of the worst defensive teams in the NBA as of late, and that was apparent at that start with both sides getting whatever they wanted to outset of the game. LaMelo kept the Hornets afloat early by pushing the pace, moving the ball and scoring eight points in the first three minutes. LaMelo Ball saves its back to Biz, then gets going...

Troy Wayrynen-USA TODAY Sports U up? It’s pretty late This is now an open thread!

Photo by Abbie Parr/ Charlotte wraps up its West Coast trip in Portland, the Hornets’ first meeting with the Trail Blazers this season What: Charlotte Hornets (16-17) at Portland Trail Blazers (18-14) When: 10:30 pm EST Where: Moda Center; Portland, Ore. How to watch: Fox Sports Southeast, NBA League Pass With PJ Washington coming off a career-best 42-point scoring output in a late-game comeback in Sacramento, the Charlotte Hornets look to pick up their second win in as many days against the Portland Trail Blazers. The Trail Blazers have dropped four straight games...

Cary Edmondson-USA TODAY Sports PJ Washington scored a career high 42 points as the Hornets pulled off a miraculous late comeback with some help from their opposition. PJ Washington scored a career high 42 points as the Charlotte Hornets downed the Sacramento Kings 127-126 thanks to a last second and-1 from Malik Monk and a bevy of Kings missed free throws. The Hornets forgot to bring their bring the defense with them to start the game. They repeatedly left Buddy Hield open for three and dug themselves into an early 14 point hole. By the end of the first quarter,...

Sergio Estrada-USA TODAY Sports AKA LaMelo Ball vs Tyrese Halburton This is it. This is for all the marbles. Who is better? LaMelo Ball, or Tyrese Haliburton? This is now an open thread!

Sam Sharpe-USA TODAY Sports Charlotte needs to get healthy and start stringing together some consecutive wins. What: Charlotte Hornets (15-17) at Sacramento Kings (13-20) When: 10:00 pm EST Where: Golden 1 Center; Sacramento, California How to watch: Fox Sports Southeast, NBA League Pass A trip to Sacramento has always been a welcome journey for teams battling for playoff position like the year’s Hornets. I have nothing but sympathy and respect for diehard Kings fans as they’ve had to endure 14 consecutive years without a playoff appearance and the underachieving...

Photo by Noah Graham/NBAE via Probably not the Hornets’ best performance, eh? Three Charlotte Hornets scored north of 20 points and PJ Washington notched a double-double, but the Golden State Warriors prevailed 130-121 behind strong efforts in the second and third quarters. LaMelo Ball hustled for an offensive board and converted the put-back to give Charlotte their first points. In his first start of the season, Cody Martin filled in admirably and played with more energy and involvement than he had all season long. An 8-0 run from the Warriors put them ahead...

Nell Redmond-USA TODAY Sports The Hornets will try to sweep the season series against the Warriors for the second straight season. Look at the joy in PJ Washington’s face as Draymond Green decides his emotions are more important than his team winning the game. This is now an open thread!

Photo by Jared C. Tilton/ Draymond Green, please get two technicals again tonight so the Hornets can win, thank you What: Charlotte Hornets (15-16) vs Golden State Warriors (18-15) When: 10:00 pm EST Where: Chase Center; San Francisco, Calif. How to watch: Fox Sports South, NBA League Pass The Charlotte Hornets will look to sweep the season series in a matchup with the Golden State Warriors tonight, following one of the most fun games of the Hornets’ 2020-21 season when Terry Rozier ethered the Dubs at the buzzer last week. Charlotte split the first two games of this...

Put some respect on Gordon Hayward’s name LINK TO SHOW The Stinger is a quick podcast focused around Hornets-related subjects, whether it be the official Hornets Instagram showing off fits no one can buy, rotation changes, or the ever-fluctuating prices of LaMelo Ball Top Shots. But it’s just a check-in. Just the stinger, just to see how it feels. On this episode of The Stinger Zachary Brown and Jack Simone discuss the All-Star Reserves and Gordon Hayward not being named among them. And How that snub, however minor, is indicative of the lack of respect for the Hornets...