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Rockets Soar Past Hornets at Spectrum Center in High-Scoring Affair

In a high-octane encounter at the Spectrum Center, the Houston Rockets outpaced the Charlotte Hornets with a final score of 138-104. The Rockets improved their season record to 21-23, while the Hornets now stand at 10-33.


CHICAGO, IL - DECEMBER 6: Gordon Hayward #20 of the Charlotte Hornets dribbles the ball during the game against the Chicago Bulls on December 6, 2023 at the United Center in Chicago, Illinois. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2023 NBAE (Photo by Gary Dineen/NBAE via Getty Images).

The home crowd witnessed an intense battle where the Charlotte Hornets showed moments of promise but ultimately fell short against a relentless Houston offense. Despite trailing by just two points after the first quarter, Charlotte struggled to contain Houston's explosive third-quarter performance, where they put up an impressive 44 points. The Rockets' offensive onslaught was too much for the Hornets to handle as they extended their lead significantly.


Charlotte's efforts were led by their bench, contributing a solid 43 points. However, this paled in comparison to Houston's bench which poured in an overwhelming 65 points. The home team managed to draw fouls effectively and went on to make 25 out of their 32 free throw attempts for a commendable free throw percentage of approximately 78 percent.


On defense, Charlotte amassed seven blocks and six steals but still allowed Houston too many opportunities inside; the Rockets scored a dominant 68 points in paint. Moreover, despite both teams having bonus situations throughout various stages of the game, it was clear that defensive efficiency was not on Charlotte’s side this evening as they allowed Houston an effective field goal percentage of approximately 64 percent.


Houston also dominated rebounding with a total count of 60 compared to Charlotte’s more modest tally of 42 rebounds. This discrepancy played into one key aspect where Charlotte lagged behind: second-chance points. While both teams had ten second-chance attempts each, Houston capitalized better with eighteen second-chance points against only seven from Charlotte.


The bright spots for the Hornets included leading for over eight minutes during which they held onto a five-point advantage at one stage – showcasing that there were periods when they matched up well against their opponents.


Looking ahead after tonight's tough loss, fans can catch their next chance to support The Hornets as they host Utah Jazz at Spectrum Center on January 27th at around seven o'clock in the evening Eastern Time. This upcoming game will be broadcasted locally on BSSE channel number six hundred forty-nine and away fans can tune into KJZZ TV network coverage.

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