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Naz Reid helps Hornets end six-game losing streak
Charlotte Hornets center Naz Reid. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

Naz Reid helps Hornets end six-game losing streak

The Charlotte Hornets had lost six straight games since benching Naz Reid for the second half of their 97-89 loss to the Detroit Pistons on Oct. 28. They finally got a win thanks to a massive game from Reid.

Reid had 25 points and 13 rebounds as the Hornets beat the Cleveland Cavaliers Monday night, 124-112. His rebounding and outside shooting made a massive difference as Charlotte finally righted the ship.

Naz Reid responded to his benching

Hornets coach Charles Lee disciplined and publicly embarrassed Reid after the loss to the Pistons, telling reporters that Reid "didn't meet our standards in the first half." It's not clear what Reid did, or didn't do, to incur the wrath of his coach, but he didn't return in a game Charlotte led by seven points at halftime, and lost by eight.

Immediately after his 24-minute benching, Reid experienced a shooting slump and his team went into a slump, period. The Hornets have had All-Rookie sharpshooter Kon Knueppel for just six minutes this season, while Brandon Miller, Dennis Schroder and Coby White have all suffered injuries.

Reid scored 28 points in a loss to the Brooklyn Nets to start his turnaround, while grabbing nine boards. He's shooting 40 percent from deep in November, going 4-for-9 Monday as the Hornets went a scorching 23-for-46 from distance.

Naz Reid's unhappiness in Charlotte may have been overstated

It's quite early in Reid's tenure in Charlotte, but that hasn't stopped a wave of speculation about the former Sixth Man of the Year's future. He came to the Hornets in the blockbuster deal that sent LaMelo Ball to the Minnesota Timberwolves, the only team Reid had ever played for. The clash with Lee, coupled with the Hornets' slow start, raised questions about whether Reid was unhappy in Charlotte.

Monday's game could put that talk to rest. After the game, Reid told reporters, "Me and coach, we've been fine since [the benching]." Lee called Reid "an elite two-way player" in his postgame remarks, after his opposite number, Evan Mobley, scored only nine points.

The Hornets certainly have problems, primarily the injury issues that have kept starters out, and will keep Knueppel out at least four more weeks. The dramatically revamped roster, which has two first-round rookies and two new starters, has had little opportunity to play together at full strength.

But Reid's play and his relationship with his coach aren't among those problems. The Hornets' biggest issue is in the training room, not the locker room.

Sean Keane

Sean Keane is a sportswriter and a comedian based in Oakland, California, with experience covering the NBA, MLB, NFL and Ice Cube’s three-on-three basketball league, The Big 3. He’s written for Comedy Central’s “Another Period,” ESPN the Magazine, and Audible.com. His debut album “America’s Uncle Dad” debuted at No. 1 on the iTunes comedy chart and since 2016, he’s co-hosted the NBA podcast “Roundball Rock. In 2014, the San Francisco Bay Guardian named Keane an “Outstanding Local Discovery” and promptly went out of business.

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