The Toronto Raptors are poised to encounter a team experiencing a comparable downturn when they face off against the Charlotte Hornets.
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The Toronto Raptors are poised to encounter a team experiencing a comparable downturn when they face off against the Charlotte Hornets on Wednesday night. Toronto’s recent struggles, highlighted by a disheartening 138-100 loss to the New Orleans Pelicans on Monday night, extend their poor streak to three consecutive defeats and eight losses in their last nine games.
Similarly, the Charlotte Hornets find themselves mired in an eight-game losing streak, with their most recent effort falling just short in a 124-118 loss to the visiting Los Angeles Lakers on Monday night.
The Hornets have endured defeat in their previous seven home matchups, yet they’ve already secured a victory against Toronto on their home court, triumphing 119-116 on December 8th. Gordon Hayward played a pivotal role in that win with 24 points, but his availability for Wednesday’s game is uncertain due to a calf injury.
The Raptors have undergone changes since December too. Pascal Siakam, who has been a dominant force against the Hornets in previous encounters, has been traded. Siakam played a significant role for the Indiana Pacers in their victory on Sunday night against Charlotte. Meanwhile, Toronto’s Scottie Barnes showcased his prowess with 31 points in the first matchup of the season against the Hornets.
For the Hornets, Lowry (coach’s decision) and Williams (back injury) will not be playing the game. Besides, Ball (ankle injury), Hayward (calf injury), Martin (knee injury), and Ntilikina (hip injury) are questionable for the game. As for the Raptors, Nowell (hamstring injury) and Porter (back injury) will be sitting this one out. Besides, Trent could also miss out on the game due to a back injury.
Raptors coach Darko Rajakovic expressed his disappointment with his team’s showing in New Orleans, deeming it unacceptable. Even the impressive performance by rookie Gradey Dick, who scored a career-best 22 points, failed to provide a silver lining.
There’s optimism that Toronto forward RJ Barrett, who sat out Monday’s game as part of load management due to a knee issue, will be back in action on Wednesday. Since his trade from the New York Knicks, Barrett has been a key contributor for Toronto, averaging 21.1 points and 7.1 rebounds in 14 games.
Within the Hornets’ camp, Brandon Miller continues to elevate his already impressive rookie campaign. Notably, he delivered a remarkable 33-point performance against the Lakers, bringing his total points across the past five games to 146, marking the highest tally for a rookie in any five-game stretch this season.
Coach Clifford highlighted Miller’s ongoing growth across various aspects of his game. With the trade of Terry Rozier, who notably scored 21 points and provided 13 assists in the December game against Toronto, and injuries affecting other players, Miller has been entrusted with a more significant role on the team.
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