Charlotte faces Toronto on 4-game skid

Sun, Dec 17, 2023
NBA News (AP)

Charlotte Hornets (7-17, 13th in the Eastern Conference) vs. Toronto Raptors (10-15, 11th in the Eastern Conference)

Toronto; Monday, 7:30 p.m. EST

BOTTOM LINE: Charlotte looks to break its four-game losing streak with a victory over Toronto.

The Raptors are 6-14 in Eastern Conference games. Toronto is fourth in the Eastern Conference with 12.4 offensive rebounds per game led by Jakob Poeltl averaging 2.9.

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Gordon Hayward scores 24 points as hot-shooting Hornets hold off Scottie Barnes, Raptors 119-116

The Hornets have gone 7-13 against Eastern Conference opponents. Charlotte ranks sixth in the league scoring 53.5 points per game in the paint led by LaMelo Ball averaging 10.5.

The Raptors average 112.5 points per game, 8.5 fewer points than the 121.0 the Hornets allow. The Hornets average 11.4 made 3-pointers per game this season, 1.6 fewer made shots on average than the 13.0 per game the Raptors allow.

The teams play for the second time this season. The Hornets won the last meeting 119-116 on Dec. 9, with Gordon Hayward scoring 24 points in the victory.

TOP PERFORMERS: Scottie Barnes is averaging 20.2 points, 8.9 rebounds, 5.7 assists and 1.6 steals for the Raptors. OG Anunoby is averaging 2.6 made 3-pointers over the last 10 games for Toronto.

Hayward is scoring 15.2 points per game with 4.9 rebounds and 4.7 assists for the Hornets. Terry Rozier is averaging 23.7 points and 3.1 rebounds while shooting 47.5% over the last 10 games for Charlotte.

LAST 10 GAMES: Raptors: 3-7, averaging 113.2 points, 43.8 rebounds, 29.5 assists, 7.5 steals and 4.8 blocks per game while shooting 47.2% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 117.2 points per game.

Hornets: 2-8, averaging 108.0 points, 36.4 rebounds, 25.3 assists, 6.6 steals and 4.8 blocks per game while shooting 47.2% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 120.1 points.

INJURIES: Raptors: Christian Koloko: out (respiratory).

Hornets: Frank Ntilikina: out (leg), LaMelo Ball: out (ankle), P.J. Washington Jr.: day to day (shoulder), Mark Williams: day to day (back), Cody Martin: out (knee), Gordon Hayward: day to day (illness).

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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.