Charlotte Hornets (38-34) beat Sacramento Kings (19-54) 134-90 at home on Tuesday, March 24. The final margin was 44 points.
The game, quarter by quarter
The Hornets had the better start, winning the first 34-25 to lead by 9 after one. The Hornets kept the pressure on with a 38-22 second quarter, carrying a 25-point lead into halftime.
The Hornets won the third 41-29 to create some separation, taking a 37-point lead into the fourth. The Hornets took the fourth 21-14; the Hornets finished the job for a 134-90 regulation win.
Why it was lopsided
The Hornets got more from their shots, finishing at 64.9% effective field-goal shooting compared with 45.6% for the Kings. The Hornets grabbed 32.4% of their own misses, while the Kings recovered 18.2%. That shooting gap supplied the clearest edge.
At roughly 100 possessions per team, the Hornets produced 134.1 points per 100 possessions to 90.1 for the Kings.
The Hornets' reserves also made a difference, outscoring the opposing bench 69-27.
Who stood out
Coby White was the game's biggest individual force for CHA: 27 pts, 5 reb, 1 ast on 9-12 shooting. His Game Score of 24.4 led everyone. His team was +26 with him on the floor.
Devin Carter led the Kings with 18 pts, 3 reb, 3 ast on 7-15 shooting, good for a 12.9 Game Score.
Moussa Diabate (17 pts, 11 reb, 2 ast) recorded a double-double.
What it means
The result fit the pre-game Win Meter, which gave the Hornets about a 92% chance.
Across the last 3 meetings in our records, Sacramento Kings lead 2-1.
The Hornets are now 38-34, and the Kings are 19-54. The Hornets last five before this game: W-L-W-W-W.
Written automatically by Tip Off Live software from box score data. Ratings and probabilities are our own model estimates.