CHARLOTTE, N.C. — In a contest featuring the NBA’s struggling teams, the Washington Wizards emerged victorious over the Charlotte Hornets with a 113-100 win on Saturday night. Leading the Wizards were Khris Middleton and Bilal Coulibaly, each contributing 17 points. Richaun Holmes was also instrumental, adding 15 points and securing nine rebounds, as Washington saw eight players score in double digits.
Mark Williams shone for the Hornets, achieving a double-double with 24 points and 12 rebounds. LaMelo Ball chipped in with 20 points, while Miles Bridges added 18. Despite their efforts, the Hornets suffered their sixth consecutive defeat. The Wizards, although still holding the NBA’s worst record at 11-48, took a step back from the Hornets, who closely trailed at 14-45.
During the end of the third quarter, the Wizards started to distance themselves with crucial 3-pointers by Bub Carrington. This run was further extended in the fourth quarter when Marcus Smart drained a 3-pointer and followed up with a floater, establishing a 14-point lead.
Takeaways from the game include the return of Wizards’ center Alex Sarr, who had 10 points and three rebounds after his absence due to a left ankle sprain on February 21. Playing 22 minutes, Sarr made 4 out of his 10 shots. On the other hand, the Hornets continue to deal with injuries affecting their bench. Players like Moussa Diabate, Tidjane Salaun, DaQuan Jeffries, Damion Baugh, and Malachi Flynn—who debuted after recently joining the team—saw action.
A pivotal moment came when, following a Hornets rally to cut the lead to seven, Holmes received a pass inside the post and fought through traffic for a decisive two-handed layup. His celebration prompted Charlotte to call for a timeout.
The performance discrepancy was apparent as Washington’s bench sharply outperformed Charlotte’s with a 50-13 scoring advantage.
Both teams will be back in action on Monday night. The Wizards are set to face the Miami Heat, while the Hornets will host the Golden State Warriors, featuring Charlotte native Stephen Curry.
