Charlotte Hornets vs. Houston Rockets (Anniversary Night)

Charlotte Hornets vs. Houston Rockets

Friday, January 26, 2024 at 7:00 p.m.

Spectrum Center
333 E Trade St.
Charlotte, NC 28202

Tickets: $17.50 plus 

The Hornets will return to Spectrum Center for a four-game homestand to close out January starting Friday night against the Houston Rockets. LaMelo Ball’s return to the lineup has helped Charlotte win two of their last three games, despite a rough game shooting (28.6%) in the loss to the Detroit Pistons Wednesday night. 

Houston enters the game on a three-game road skid, posting a 3-7 record in their last 10 games. The Rockets have a healthy blend of young talent and experienced veterans, spearheaded by third-year center Alperen Sengun (22.1 points, 5.1 assists per game) and former All-Star guard Fred Vanvleet (17.3 points, 8.5 assists per game).

Friday night will also be an Anniversary Night, and the Hornets will wear their 1997-2002 Classic Edition uniforms, celebrating the 35^th anniversary of the inaugural 1988-89. 

What to watch for:  

While the Rockets rank 21st in the NBA in assist percentage (60.3), Sengun’s passing ability allows Houston to consistently score on backdoor cuts and off-ball movement. The Hornets will need to stay vigilant in the passing lanes, forcing Houston’s backcourt to shoot from the perimeter, as the Rockets are currently ranked 27th in the NBA in three-point percentage. 

Inside the Numbers: 

• After scoring 23 points in Wednesday’s game at Detroit, Brandon Miller joins Victor Wembanyama as the only rookies this season with four consecutive games with at least 20 points
• Nick Richards returned from injury (ankle) Wednesday night, finishing with a career-high 21 points in the loss to Detroit.  

Jeremy Grandison is a Charlotte native and contributing sports writer for CLTure. He also hosts his own podcast, Lock It or Leave It.

Read next: