The Los Angeles Clippers and Charlotte Hornets have similarities — and that’s not a good thing.
Both hold 4-11 records and will be trying to snap losing skids when they meet Saturday afternoon in Charlotte.
“We got to be better,” Clippers coach Tyronn Lue said.
The Hornets have been off since losing 127-118 on Wednesday at Indiana, a setback that gave them a season-worst four-game losing streak.
The Clippers have dropped three straight, including Thursday night’s 129-101 pounding from the Orlando Magic.
Los Angeles, which only has one win in November, will be on the fifth stop in a seven-game road trip when it faces the Hornets.
Lue said the team had made progress defensively, but he called the lack of execution at that end of the court against the Magic a step backward. It marked the third time this season the Clippers have allowed 129 points or more.
“It starts with our guards getting into the ball,” Lue said. “If we are doing that, then our low man is late, It’s everything just tied together. Just having less breakdowns (would help).”
Defense has been the Hornets’ biggest problem, giving up more than 120 points in eight of their 15 games.
Aside from the losing, there has been a consistent element with the Clippers. Veteran guard James Harden has been the team’s leading scorer in each of the past six games. He also has topped the teams in assists in 11 games.
Charlotte rookies have been in the starting lineup and have been key producers.
Kon Knueppel became the first NBA player to reach 50 baskets from 3-point range in the first 15 games of a career — no other player had done so in fewer than 18 games. He drained five treys as part of a 28-point outing against the Pacers and is averaging 18.3 points per game on 40.3% 3-point shooting.
“It’s great for a young player to have that type of success early on,” Hornets coach Charles Lee said. “He’s humble enough to understand that a lot of it is him, and a lot of it is his teammates, too. That combination is putting him in a good spot, and he’s converting and showing us what kind of player he can be.”
Knueppel has led the Hornets in scoring in the past two games.
Lee said rookie center Ryan Kalkbrenner has given Charlotte boosts as he continues to adapt to the NBA.
“It has been a joy to watch him,” Lee said. “A lot of that’s Ryan, a lot of that’s the coaching he had before he got here, and the foundation he came in with.”
Tre Mann could be ready to return for the Hornets after the guard missed Wednesday’s game with an ankle injury.
The Clippers are still waiting on Kawhi Leonard’s availability, but it doesn’t sound like it will be on this road trip. He last played Nov. 3, when he suffered an ankle injury.
“I don’t know how long it’s going to be, but he has definitely gotten better,” Lue said.
