Hornets Torch Grizzlies in Preseason Blowout
The Charlotte Hornets, coming off their Saturday night win against the Dallas Mavericks, caught fire Wednesday evening at First Horizon Coliseum in Greensboro, NC, dominating the Memphis Grizzlies 145-116 in their fourth preseason matchup. It was Charlotte’s most complete outing so far, featuring crisp passing, efficient shooting, and a relentless offensive rhythm that Memphis simply couldn’t keep up with. The Hornets shot 51% from the field and hit 20 threes while outscoring the Grizzlies 45–28 in the third quarter to break the game wide open. The victory evened Charlotte’s preseason record at 2–2 with one more game to go.
Miles Bridges led the charge with a monster double-double, finishing with 29 points and 10 rebounds in a dominant all-around effort. LaMelo Ball looked in full control of the offense, pouring in 23 points and dishing out eight assists. Brandon Miller kept up his strong preseason play, adding 21 points and three triples from deep. Rookie Kon Knueppel added nine points, made up of three triples as well, continuing to show confidence as a starter for his new team.
Off the bench, Moussa Diabaté made his presence felt with 18 points and 13 rebounds, including nine on the offensive glass, providing nonstop energy in the paint. Collin Sexton brought his usual spark, scoring 13 points to go along with six assists as he led a bench unit that kept Charlotte’s momentum rolling. Rookie Sion James added eight points, and sophomore KJ Simpson and rookie Liam McNeeley both added seven, respectively, as the Hornets’ depth shined with ten players scoring at least seven points. Charlotte’s mix of youth and experience looked perfectly balanced in what was easily their most encouraging preseason performance yet.
For Memphis, Javon Small led the way with 18 points and eight assists, while Jaren Jackson Jr. and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope added 17 and 15, respectively. Despite shooting 43% from three, the Grizzlies struggled defensively and couldn’t match Charlotte’s energy after halftime. Their inability to protect the paint or slow the Hornets’ transition attack proved costly as they fell to 0–4 in preseason play. The Grizzlies showed flashes offensively but were outworked in nearly every phase of the game.
The Hornets now turn their attention to Friday night’s preseason finale against the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden, tipping off at 7:30 p.m. EST. That game will decide whether Charlotte finishes the preseason with a winning or losing record. With Ball in rhythm, Bridges looking like his old self, and Miller finding his stride, the Hornets appear to be hitting their groove at just the right time. If they can bring the same focus and intensity to New York, they’ll head into the regular season with real momentum.
