3 in a row! All three wins versus 2020 playoff teams to boot (wtf are the origins of this saying(it’s not interesting something about ye olde English law)). Malik Monk had a career game, including 36 points on 61% shooting from the field. Monk looked as confident and comfortable as I have ever seen him in the NBA. We needed Monk to make up for Rozier being out with an ankle injury, we really fucking needed Monk when PJ went down in the second half. Monk had our back. Hornets’ players being able to catch fire might be one of this teams’ greatest strengths. Bridges, Ball, Graham, Rozier, Hayward and now Monk have all had games where they went TF off and took over, most of the time from 3 point range too.
I did think Jimmy G(g stands for gets) Buckets had us in the fourth quarter when he rattled off 4 shots in a row immediately followed by a 3 from Duncan Robinson, putting the Hornets down 10 with 3:49 left in the game. Monk followed with an and one that caused Spoelstra to call a time out and design a play for Herro to hit a 3, which he did. Gordon had enough of Herro so he decided to bully the shit out of him on the next two possessions for two easy layups. Heat missed a few more threes (died by it last night), Graham hit a 3 and pair of free throws that brought the game to within 3 with 38 seconds left. Iggy missed a three and the Hornets headed the other way. Borrego made a smart move in letting the guys have 10 or so seconds of run to see if they could get an open shot. Even though the Hornets didn’t get a clean look and had to call a timeout this was one of the smarter moves Borrego has made this year, especially considering Spoelstra is on the other side. Borrego drew up a play for Monk that worked to perfection, and Monk and his steel balls tied the game up at 113. Butler settled for a 3 and missed it to end regulation.
OT was rather chill for the Hornets. Hornets started off with a dime from Ball to Zeller, then bullied Herro some more, then made we last 4 free throws to wrap up the game.
-Eric Collins and Del are a delight to listen to on the broadcast
-Confident Malik is here to stay
-Random ass Max Strus lit us up for 19 points, but we still won, because Monk lit them up more. Is Max Strus Big Truss????
LaMelo started off slow but did not let it ruin the rest of the game for him. 3 TOs in the first half, 0 in the second. Ball once again showed us his ability to affect the game in other ways than scoring.
Hugo CLT 