NBA: Hornets put focus on ball retention against Wizards

The Charlotte Hornets have several issues to address in a short period of time as they return home for a Tuesday night matchup against the Washington Wizards following a loss on the road.

Charlotte is coming off a 139–132 defeat to the Cleveland Cavaliers on Monday night. LaMelo Ball led the Hornets with 23 points, including six 3-pointers, but the team was outpaced from long range as Cleveland connected on 24 shots from beyond the arc compared to Charlotte’s 21.

Despite dealing with a patchwork lineup, the Hornets may not be overly fatigued playing on consecutive nights.

“I think our minutes were in a decent spot,” Charlotte coach Charles Lee said. “As we board the plane and head back home, we’ve got to think about how we take care of the ball a little bit better to give ourselves the best opportunity.”

Ball security proved costly against Cleveland, as Charlotte committed 20 turnovers that resulted in 31 points for the Cavaliers.

Only Kon Knueppel and Miles Bridges logged more than 30 minutes for the Hornets. Ball’s availability for Tuesday remains uncertain as he continues to manage recent injury issues.

The loss marked Charlotte’s second straight defeat and its fourth in the last six games.

Washington enters the game having won two of its last four contests, with both victories coming on the road. The Wizards most recently fell 124–113 at home to the San Antonio Spurs on Sunday.

Despite flashes of improvement, Washington has struggled defensively, allowing at least 119 points in nine of its past 10 games.

The Wizards could receive a boost if Marvin Bagley III (sore left calf) and Bilal Coulibaly (sprained left ankle) return to the lineup. Both players missed Sunday’s game and were listed as questionable for Tuesday.

Bagley is averaging 10.0 points per game this season but has increased his production to 14.1 points per contest this month. Coulibaly has started all 13 games he has played in the 2025–26 season and is averaging 8.4 points per game.

Bub Carrington has led or shared the team scoring lead in two of Washington’s last five games, though he averages 8.9 points per game overall.

Rookie guard Tre Johnson has also shown offensive progress, matching his season high with 19 points on Sunday.

“He’s just getting used to playing with his teammates,” Washington coach Brian Keefe said. “These are his first few games back coming off an injury. It’s about getting his rhythm. We’re finding him in the right spots, and that’s what he does — he can score.”

Johnson said his confidence continues to grow.

“I feel like I’m constantly improving,” he said. “The biggest thing for me is figuring out my role.”

The Wizards are 3–12 on the road this season, which is still one more win than they have recorded at home.

Charlotte may be without center Mason Plumlee, who made a rare start Monday but exited in the third quarter with right groin soreness and did not return. He finished with five points and five rebounds in 10 minutes.

The Hornets are already short-handed, with center Ryan Kalkbrenner sidelined due to a sprained left elbow and guard Collin Sexton missing the game with a left quadriceps strain.

Charlotte defeated Washington 139–113 on Oct. 26 in the nation’s capital, scoring 88 points in the second half. Ball scored 38 points in that game, while four Hornets reached the 20-point mark. CJ McCollum scored 24 points and Alexandre Sarr added 23 for the Wizards.

— Field Level Media/Reuters