Falling behind at the start of games has been an early-season problem for the Charlotte Hornets, and one that reared its ugly head again in Wednesday night’s 128-119 road loss to the Houston Rockets.
PJ Washington was the brightest offensive spot for the Hornets in their third straight defeat, finishing with a game-high-tying 23 points on 8-of-13 shooting, which included a near-perfect 5-of-6 clip from 3-point range. Terry Rozier added another 21 points on 10-of-21 shooting, giving himself four consecutive 20-point showings to begin the season.
A 25-9 first quarter-closing-run helped put Houston ahead by 18 halfway through the second, before Charlotte returned serve with a 23-7 stretch to enter the break down by only three.