by Hornets: OUT: Mark Williams (foot), Nick Richards (shoulder), DaQuan Jeffries (hand) Doubtful: Brandon Miller (glutes, injury management)
Timberwolves: Questionable: Rudy Gobert (ankle)
The Charlotte Hornets (2-4) travel to Minnesota on Monday (Nov. 4) to take on the Timberwolves (3-3) after the Buzz City squad lost in back-to-back home games in Charlotte against reigning NBA champion Boston Celtics last week.
Monday’s trip to Minneapolis is the second road trip for the Hornets after opening the 2024-25 season with games in Houston and Atlanta – a win against the Rockets followed by a loss to the Hawks. At home, the Hornets failed against the Miami Heat and triumphed over the Toronto Reports before the awkward double loss to Boston. Sure, the season has only just started, but are things starting to look a little shaky for Charlotte yet?
And will the Hornets have what it takes to topple the Wolves in the two teams’ first meeting this season? Star Charlotte point guard LaMelo Ball has averaged 30 points per game so far, and he appears to be in good health, a primary challenge for him over the past two seasons.
However, Hornets fans did not get to see the return of third-year center Mark Williams due to his foot injury in the preseason. Sophomore swingman Brandon Miller is still dealing with a glute injury that has caused him to miss all but two games so far. Both players are tremendous in supporting Melo and driving the attack.
Hornets head coach Charles Lee, the former Celtics assistant in his first year as a HC in the league, will need Williams and Miller to help spread the Hornets out on the court. Meanwhile, Oklahoma City Thunder transplant Tre Mann continues to heat up and fill his sixth man role for Charlotte, with the PG averaging 19 PPGs per game, recording 23 in last Friday’s game against Boston after coming off the bench – a quite a change from the 8.5 PPG Mann average with the Thunder.
Defensive tactics remain a question for the Hornets, especially with Melo as the driving force of the team – something Lee recently referenced when speaking to the media. As for post-game availability after last Saturday’s loss to the Celtics, Lee said the Hornets are “trying to challenge him. We have to learn if he can guard one-on-one or do we have to double-team him every time.” Time or are you going to make a mistake? I think that’s something we have to figure out as a staff.”
LaMelo Ball vs. Anthony Edwards
Dominant center Karl-Anthony Towns may be gone from the Wolves this year, but perennial Minnesota guard Anthony Edwards remains a key addition to the Western Conference team. And Monday’s matchup between the Hornets and Wolves could show us who has the best early-season tenacity between Melo and the Ant-Man. After all, Edwards is at Melo’s level: he’s currently scoring around 28 PPG. Still, whatever happens, it’ll be fun to see the two glowing guardians go at it.
|
Charlotte Hornets |
Minnesota Timberwolves |
|
|---|---|---|
|
G |
LaMelo ball |
Mike Conley |
|
G |
Seth Curry |
Anthony Edwards |
|
F |
Jos Green |
Jaden McDaniels |
|
F |
Miles of bridges |
Julius Randle |
|
c |
Grant Williams |
Naz Reid |
The Hornets’ next game is at home at Spectrum Center against the Detroit Pistons on Wednesday (November 6) at 7:00 PM ET.
MORE STORIES FROM HORNETS ON SI
Brandon Miller talks about his synergy with Hornets star LaMelo Ball
The Hornets’ second-half surge falls short in their second straight loss to the defending champion Boston Celtics
First takeaways from Charlotte’s disappointing loss to Tatum, Pritchard, Celtics
Hornets announce starting lineup with Brandon Miller for game two against Celtics
