Charlotte Hornets Snap Four Game Skid With Road Win Over the Atlanta Hawks
The Charlotte Hornets got a huge victory away from home against their divisional rivals in the Atlanta Hawks as they ended their road trip with a win.
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | T | |
| Hawks | 22 | 20 | 32 | 25 | 99 |
| Hornets | 22 | 31 | 27 | 27 | 107 |
The Charlotte Hornets (15-13) were able to defeat the Atlanta Hawks (13-14) as they snapped their four-game losing streak. The team welcomed back Kemba Walker as they ended their five-game road trip with a win over their divisional rivals. Steve Clifford’s side closed out the game and a number of players stepped up in this one.
After missing the previous game due to a personal issue, Kemba Walker joined the team in Atlanta and returned to the starting lineup. With the captain back, the team looked rejuvenated. The star point guard finished the night with 18 points, 10 assists, and six rebounds.
Turning Point
Charlotte led for most of the game but they squandered away a 16 point lead in the second half as Atlanta fought back in the fourth quarter. The game-changing moment came with 7:41 left in the game. Dwight Howard and Cody Zeller got tangled up and a double technical was called. After that, the Hornets took control of the game and outscored the Hawks 21-12 to close out the final period.
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Who Stepped Up
Marco Belinelli played an important role off the bench as he scored 19 points on 8-11 shooting from the field. Marvin Williams also stepped up as he scored 19 points and grabbed six rebounds. Cody Zeller recorded a double-double with 16 points and 11 rebounds as he was battling with Dwight Howard for most of the game.
Nicolas Batum and Michael Kidd-Gilchrist each had quiet nights as Nic ended with seven points, four assists, and three rebounds in 32 minutes. MKG only mustered up four points and two rebounds in 20 minutes of action as he cheered from the sideline while Belinelli closed out the game.
Surprisingly, Tim Hardaway Jr. led the Hawks in this one with a game-high 21 points. Paul Millsap was right behind him with 20 points to go along with five rebounds and five assists. Kent Bazemore scored 17 while Dwight Howard had a monster double-double with 10 points and 23 boards.
Highlight of the Game:
🔥🔥🔥 MARVIN!!!!!🔥🔥🔥 #CHAatATL #BuzzCity pic.twitter.com/LXivyQYXvw
— Charlotte Hornets (@hornets) December 18, 2016
Tweet of the Game:
Vs. Atlanta. Cruel. https://t.co/6pF5wbjAAV
— Hardwood Paroxysm (@HPbasketball) December 18, 2016
Marvin hits the dagger against the team that drafted him.
Quick Stings
With the win, the Hornets take a 2-0 lead in the season series over the Hawks. This is an intense divisional matchup but having the early lead could prove important laster in the year. Not a bad way to snap an extended losing streak.
In their next game, the Charlotte Hornets will finally return home to take on the Los Angeles Lakers for the first time this season. After a long five-game road trip that saw the team go 1-4, Buzz City should be a welcome sight for them. The Hornets will look to build off this win and continue their success as they get back to the Spectrum Center.
