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It's another night at The Hive for the Charlotte Hornets as they continue their franchise-record nine-game homestand Saturday night against the Denver Nuggets.
Can the Bugs snap their three-game slide against one of the best teams in the Western Conference? Here's what our staff has to say.
Zachary Roberts: Nuggets 128, Hornets 105
With both teams playing two nights in a row, there’s no rest advantage. With no LaMelo Ball, the Hornets don’t have a hope in this one. They don’t have anyone who can stop Nikola Jokic, and that’ll be the biggest difference-maker.
Matt Alquiza: Nuggets 110, Hornets 91
I’m not sure there will be a mismatch in the NBA this season bigger than Nikola Jokic vs Taj Gibson. Nuggets should win in a rout, but don’t count out the undermanned Hornets. They’re going to play hard and make things difficult for Denver, but the talent advantage will win out in the end.
Owen O'Connor: Nuggets 119, Hornets 107
I think this is gonna be another classic Hornets game from this year. The team gets blown out in the first quarter and a half by a lot, and they mount a comeback for the other 2.5 quarters, but it is not enough to overcome what happened in the first. I’m expecting a big night from Nick Smith Jr. I think he’s due.
Albert Böttcher: Nuggets 122, Hornets 106
While the Nuggets have many defensive issues, their offense is too much to handle for the depleted hosts. Mark Williams will have to try to keep up with Nikola Jokic, which is a task even the league's greatest defensive bigs regularly fail to succeed at. As has always been the case in recent weeks, I still expect Charlotte to put in a valiant effort, but to no avail.
- MORE STORIES FROM HORNETS ON SI -
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Hornets face tough challenge against visiting Nuggets
ESPN BPI indicates the Hornets will need a miracle to take down the Nuggets
Hornets reject the idea of a LaMelo Ball trade to San Antonio
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The 'Most 15-assist games in NBA history' quiz
Happy 66th birthday to NBA Hall of Famer and Los Angeles Lakers legend Magic Johnson! Johnson is a 12-time All-Star, 10-time All-NBA selection, three-time NBA and NBA Finals MVP, four-time assist champion, and five time NBA champion. He spent his entire career with the Los Angeles Lakers, and was also part of the famous 1992 Olympic Dream Team that dominated the Summer Games in Barcelona. Since his retirement Johnson has remained in the sporting world. He’s spent time in the front office of the Lakers as well as purchasing stakes in MLB’s Los Angles Dodgers and the NFL’s Washington Commanders. Which brings us to today’s quiz. There have been 34 players in NBA history to rack up 15 assists in at least 25 career games. How many of those players can you name in five minutes? Good luck! Did you like this quiz? Are there any quizzes you’d like to see us make in the future? Let us know your thoughts at quizzes@yardbarker.com, and make sure to subscribe to our Quiz of the Day Newsletter for daily quizzes sent right to your email!
Bears make big decision amid concerning Caleb Williams reports
Second-year Chicago Bears quarterback Caleb Williams and other starters were spectators for Chicago's preseason opener versus the Miami Dolphins on Sunday. While speaking with reporters on Wednesday, first-year Bears head coach Ben Johnson confirmed things will be different when his club hosts the Buffalo Bills for an exhibition matchup this coming Sunday evening. "Everyone's going to play," Johnson said, as shared by Courtney Cronin of ESPN. Johnson added that how many snaps Williams will take versus the Bills is "to be determined." The Bears will first host the Bills for a joint practice on Friday. Johnson came to this decision following multiple reports detailing the supposed struggles that Williams has endured throughout training camp. Most recently, Monday’s practice was allegedly "a low point for" Chicago's first-team offense and featured "Williams and receiver Rome Odunze both looking frustrated" after some failed connections. "I've been pretty consistent with the thought of reps, reps, reps are the most important thing to get [Williams] up to speed," Johnson explained. "And by the plan that we had a week ago, we were able to get him probably somewhere between 80 and 100 more reps than we would've been able to do had he played in the game. This week, it's a different schedule. Different length of time in terms of in between games and all that. And so, our plan right now is the guys that sat out last week, they will be playing this week." Those running the Bears hope that the hiring of Johnson, an advertised offensive guru, will help Williams become a top-tier quarterback after the 23-year-old won only five of 17 starts during his rookie season. However, Kevin Fishbain of The Athletic is among those who have mentioned that Williams has been responsible for a noteworthy number of inaccurate passes this summer. "I think the trust that we've been talking about from the get-go, that's really where that comes into play," Johnson added about risking the health of his starters by playing them against Buffalo. "We haven't been here with this group as a coaching staff. That trust has been earning, and we've been developing that amongst each other. It's not a one-way street. It goes both ways. And so I think that's just another step in the progression, you know?" The Bears will wrap up the preseason with a game at the Kansas City Chiefs on Aug. 22. It's unclear if Williams or other Chicago starters will see any action that Friday night.
Browns HC gives troubling Shedeur Sanders update ahead of Eagles game
On Wednesday, the Cleveland Browns learned that rookie quarterback Shedeur Sanders was dealing with an oblique injury that could sideline him for Saturday's game at the Philadelphia Eagles. However, it appears Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski could keep Sanders out of action through Cleveland's preseason finale against the Los Angeles Rams on Aug. 23. "He felt it early, I think, warming up, and then felt it throughout [individual drills] and we took a look at it," Stefanski told reporters on Thursday while speaking about what Sanders experienced on Wednesday, per Mary Kay Cabot of the Cleveland Plain Dealer. "If it’s a right guard, you can play through that. When it’s a quarterback, you kind of need that muscle to throw. So unfortunately, we’re going to put him down for a little bit here. We will treat it day to day and see how he responds." Stefanski said the Browns want "to be really careful" with the Sanders injury because quarterbacks "torque and twist their body" on pass plays. Despite performing well in his preseason debut last Friday, Sanders, the 2025 fifth-round draft pick, remained fourth on Cleveland's unofficial depth chart before his setback. Kenny Pickett is still attempting to recover from the hamstring injury that kept him out of the Browns' preseason opener against the Carolina Panthers on Aug. 8, so veteran Joe Flacco is on track to start Cleveland's Week 1 matchup versus the Cincinnati Bengals on Sept. 7. Meanwhile, 2025 third-round draft pick Dillon Gabriel will start against the Eagles this Saturday if it's determined his hamstring is healthy. Like Pickett, Gabriel spent the Carolina game as a spectator. "Injuries stink for all these guys," Stefanski added. "They don’t want to miss a rep for any reason. But, there’s a way to continue to prepare, continue to get better, even when you’re not getting those reps up because of injuries." Sanders seemed to have a shot at earning the QB2 gig after he completed 14-of-23 passes for 138 yards and two touchdowns in Cleveland's 30-10 victory over Carolina. He could now enter September as Cleveland's QB4 if Browns general manager Andrew Berry is serious about carrying four quarterbacks on the active roster for the Cincinnati game.
Steelers' Free Agent Addition Shaping Up To Be A Disappointment After Several Weeks Of Training Camp
The Pittsburgh Steelers have brought in a ton of new faces throughout the 2025 offseason, as the organization seemed willing to spend a bunch in order to turn the franchise into a true contender. The major additions included players like Aaron Rodgers, DK Metcalf, Jalen Ramsey, and Darius Slay, but there were other new guys brought into the fold that should be able to contribute. This includes the majority of the 2025 draft class, as well as smaller free agent additions like Brandin Echols, or even Malik Harrison. Pittsburgh signed Harrison to a two-year deal worth a total of $10 million with just over $4 million guaranteed at signing. He was never going to be one of the primary inside linebackers for Pittsburgh as the organization rosters both Patrick Queen and Payton Wilson, but there was some hope he could fill the role of being the run-stopper, similar to Elandon Roberts. Harrison is also expected to play a role on special teams, but insider Mark Kaboly had the newly acquired linebacker listed as a "loser" up until this point in training camp. "The free agent signing from Baltimore is a solid special teamer and a good downhill run stopper, but he didn’t show much in his coverage ability, which will limit how the Steelers can use him," Kaboly wrote. Essentially, Kaboly noticed a lack of versatility up to this point of the summer when it came to Harrison. Unfortunately for Harrison, that is an area where the other inside linebackers in Pittsburgh shine. Wilson and Queen are both able to play a role in stopping the run and can shine in coverage. Cole Holcomb is a reliable tackler who is getting used to playing again after missing the entire 2024 season, and he could wind up being better than Harrison in coverage. Harrison spent five seasons with the Baltimore Ravens where he started 34 games and recorded 174 total tackles. Now, Pittsburgh might be put in a spot where the organization is paying him $3.2 million in 2025 to only be on the field in running situations and special teams. Thankfully, Pittsburgh can get out of the deal following the 2025 season for a dead cap charge of just over $2 million. There is still time for Harrison to move up the ranks at inside linebacker, but he is going to have to put on quite a showing during the team's next two preseason games. Queen and Wilson being the primary starters seems to be set in stone, but Harrison is competing with Holcomb, Mark Robinson, Devin Harper, and Carson Bruener for positioning on the 53-man roster. Pittsburgh kept five inside linebackers on the team in 2024, so Harrison shouldn't be in danger of losing his roster spot. However, the organization certainly wants him to perform better moving forward. Steelers Could Break Intriguing Streak Under Omar Khan's Tenure The inside linebacker position is an interesting spot to analyze when it comes down to who is going to be on the final roster. Queen and Wilson are locks, Harrison probably is as well, but that is it. Holcomb is bouncing back from an injury and carries a cap hit of $3.6 million, and Robinson has been able to make plays on special teams. There is a world where Pittsburgh is going to have to cut seventh-round pick Carson Bruener, which would mark the first time in Omar Khan's time as general manager where the Steelers cut a draft pick. It will be interesting to see how the entire situation plays out, as Holcomb could also be traded for some additional draft capital if he performs well in the last two preseason contests.
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