The Charlotte Hornets have stumbled out of the All-Star break with consecutive losses, but nobody seems close to pushing the panic button.
Instead, the Hornets appear perfectly calm heading into their matchup against the host Washington Wizards on Sunday.
Charlotte has lost three of its last four since recording a nine-game winning streak. The latest defeat was a 118-113 home loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers on Friday.
Kon Knueppel made seven 3-pointers and scored 33 points to lead the short-handed Hornets, who played without suspended forwards Miles Bridges and Moussa Diabate. Grant Williams missed the game with knee injury management.
Bridges and Diabate will remain sidelined on Sunday, while Williams is expected to be available.
Ryan Kalkbrenner started at center in place of Diabate against Cleveland and posted his third career double-double with 12 points and a career-high 13 rebounds.
“He’s been great,” Charlotte coach Charles Lee said. “(On Friday), his force, his physicality was felt for longer stretches than we had seen in a while. And when he plays like that, he makes us different, gives us great depth blocking shots at the rim, guarding different people.”
The Hornets’ promising roster includes Knueppel, who has made 193 3-pointers this season — No. 2 in NBA history by a rookie. Keegan Murray holds the record (206) in the 2022-23 season.
The 20-year-old Knueppel remains optimistic despite the Hornets losing consecutive games to the Houston Rockets and Cavaliers.
“Honestly, I feel like we’re playing pretty decently,” Knueppel said. “From a competitive standpoint, I think we’re really bringing it. It’s just two tough, close losses to two really good teams right out of the All-Star break.”
Charlotte has won its three previous meetings against Washington this season, including a 119-115 home victory Jan. 24.
The Wizards enter Sunday’s contest on a high note after completing a two-game sweep of the visiting Indiana Pacers with a 131-118 win on Friday.
Alondes Williams posted career highs of 25 points and 10 rebounds off the bench for Washington, which shot 57.9% from the field.
Williams was 9-of-11 shooting and contributed four assists and two blocks in his second game with the Wizards since signing a 10-day contract Monday.
“I feel great,” Williams said. “Back in the league and being able to do that and showing everyone what I’m capable of doing. … It feels great.”
Washington bolstered its roster with the recent acquisitions of stars Trae Young and Anthony Davis, but neither has debuted for the Wizards due to injuries.
Young is out due to a right knee MCL sprain and a quad contusion, while Davis remains sidelined with ligament damage in his left hand.
With both stars out, Washington coach Brian Keefe has relied on young players such as Williams and Sharife Cooper, who scored 18 points Friday.
Washington’s bench erupted when rookie Jamir Watkins punctuated Friday’s win with a thunderous dunk in the final minute.
“It’s great to see the joy with our guys; that’s fun for me to see,” Keefe said. “Everyone is supportive of each other. Guys were on the bench helping, supporting, cheering everyone on. That’s part of the stuff we want to build here.”
