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Wizards-Hornets Preview

Nov 25, 2015 - 4:54 AM The Charlotte Hornets aren't expected to play shut-down defense, employing a wide-open style that can lead to plenty of points on both ends of the floor.

The key for the Hornets is scoring, and after some inconsistency on offense during a 2-4 start, they seem to have found a groove with six wins in eight games entering Wednesday night's home matchup against the Washington Wizards.

Considering the fact Charlotte (8-6) is allowing 101.1 points per game this season, the Hornets have been relying on big men Al Jefferson, Cody Zeller and Frank Kaminsky to open things up for their guards, especially starters Kemba Walker and Nicolas Batum.

Jefferson in particular has been creating opportunities out of the post with 21 assists during the last eight. He's also capitalizing when defenses don't collapse on him, shooting 59.6 percent in three games over that span in which he's had at least 15 shots.

The balance has been evident in the last two overall. Jefferson was dominant in a more traditional mold against Philadelphia rookie Jahlil Okafor, finishing with 26 points, 10 rebounds and five blocks in Friday's 113-88 victory.

Three nights later with Sacramento big man DeMarcus Cousins in the paint, Jefferson scored just 10 points and let Walker take over from the perimeter with 25 of his season-best 39 points coming in the fourth quarter and overtime of a 127-122 win.

"I was doing anything possible to win," said Walker, who fell three points shy of matching a career high. "I got great looks and my shots were falling. I kept being aggressive and making the right plays. That is what I try to do - make the right plays."

Walker, who hit a one-handed scoop with 0.7 seconds left in regulation before the Kings forced OT on an inbound alley-oop, shot 16 of 23 to help Charlotte rally from 22 down in the second half en route to a sixth straight home win.

"To come back like that and play like we did in the fourth quarter, it's good and it shows the fight we have within our group," coach Steve Clifford said.

Batum chipped in with 18 points, 10 rebounds and eight assists and Jeremy Lin scored 14 for the Hornets, who shot 50 percent for the second time this season.

Charlotte's wide-open play has led to 26.6 3-point attempts per game - among the most in the league - and the Hornets had gone an impressive 23 of 50 in the two games preceding Monday's 9-for-29 performance.

The Wizards (6-5) would do well to defend the arc against the Hornets after allowing Indiana to hit a franchise-record 19 3s in 26 attempts in Tuesday's 123-106 loss.

Washington is among the league's worst with a 37.2 defensive 3-point percentage, though there isn't much to be done against a team shooting 73.1 percent from downtown.

"When I'm standing this close to you and you're still making shots, I mean, what else do you want us to do?" a frustrated Bradley Beal said after being tasked with guarding Paul George on a night when he hit seven 3s and scored 40 points.

Gary Neal scored 23 points off the bench, Beal had 20 and John Wall 18 for the Wizards, whose three-game winning streak was snapped.

"We have to let this one go," said coach Randy Wittman. "I thought our guys played hard. I don't have a problem with that. We just ran into a hot team shooting the ball."

The last time the Wizards visited Charlotte, they held the Hornets to 23 second-half points in a 95-69 win March 9 - the lowest-scoring half in franchise history.