Charlotte Hornets playoff hopes dwindle after heartbreaking loss to the Milwaukee Bucks, 118-108

Charlotte Hornets lost to the Milwaukee Bucks, 118-108 on Tuesday night. It’s the first time since the 2011-2012 season that the Bucks took the season series against the Hornets, Bucks have also won 12 times in last 15 games. Charlotte backup guard Marco Belinelli left the game late in the fourth quarter due to a gash over his right eye after colliding with Kris Middleton. Charlotte entered tonight only two games back from the Miami Heat for the eighth and final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference so the Hornets needed this win badly with only nine games left. Milwaukee came out on fire, hitting their first five shots and making 20 of their first 26 shots and shoot 73% from the field in the first half to take a 72-50 lead at halftime. Charlotte trailed by as much as 26 in the second half but would able to cut the deficit to eleven with about four minutes left in the fourth quarter after the Hornets went on an 11-2 that was capped off by Jeremy Lamb transition three. But Charlotte was never able to cut the lead to single digits until the final minutes of the game.

            The MVP for the Hornets this game is Jeremy Lamb who scored 16 points off the bench. Lamb played good tonight, helped keep this game in arms reach for the Hornets. In the second quarter help the Hornets go on 10-2 run to cut the deficit to 14 and again the fourth quarter to cut the lead to 11. Lamb needs to work on his defense but is explosive on offense which is what the Hornets bench needs dearly. The Hornets were terrible on defense tonight, allowing the Bucks to shot 73% from the field and 56% from the three-point line in the first half is embarrassing bad. Giving up 14 threes’ in one game is again embarrassing. The Bucks exploited the Hornets lack of having a backup center, Greg Monroe, and Giannis Antetokounmpo killed Frank Kaminsky on the block. Frank Kaminsky is already terrible on defense much less putting him as center and guard center's that just out muscle him is a bad move. I understand that Miles Plumlee was injury and Johnny O’Bryant were both injury but Plumlee has been cleared for play for a few games, if you want to make a run for the playoffs you’re going to need a backup center. I know that this isn’t the whole reason we lost tonight and that he might be fully in shape yet but putting him for a few minutes a half can change how the other teams attack. The leading scorers for the Hornets this game were Kemba Walker with 26 points 5 assists, Frank Kaminsky with 20 points, Michael Kidd-Gilchrist with 12 points 6 rebounds and Cody Zeller with 8 points. The leading scorers for the Bucks this game were Tony Snell with 26 points, Giannis Antetokounmpo 20 points 8 rebounds, Malcolm Brogdon with 14 points 10 assists, Greg Monroe with 13 points 8 rebounds and 5 assists. Charlotte Hornets (33-41) travel to Toronto to face off against the Raptors Wednesday night in a due-or-die game for the Hornets final playoff push.