By the Associated Press
CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Malik Monk noticed teammates Devonte Graham and Terry Rozier were struggling from the field, so he figured it was time to do something about it.
Charlotte Hornets’ Marvin Williams (2) teams up with Malik Monk (1) to steal the ball away from Brooklyn Nets’ Theo Pinson (1) during the second half of an NBA basketball game in Charlotte, N.C., Friday, Dec. 6, 2019. The Nets won 111-104. (AP Photo / Bob Leverone)
“I seen that a little bit when I looked at the (stat) sheet,” Monk sad. “We were just off, and there wasn’t anybody else scoring. So somebody had to step up and I was able to do that.”
Monk scored 14 of his season-high 23 points in the fourth quarter on 5-of-5 shooting, and the Charlotte Hornets spoiled De’Aaron Fox’s return from injury with a 110-102 win over the Sacramento Kings on Tuesday night.
Cody Zeller had 17 points and nine rebounds, and Bismack Biyombo added 10 points and 12 rebounds as the Hornets (13-17) won for the fourth time in five games.
On a night when Graham and Rozier shot a combined 5 of 21 through the first three quarters, the Hornets needed a spark in the fourth and Monk provided it.
He scored eight straight points early in the quarter, including a pair of 3s from the same spot just a few feet left of the top of the key. That seemed to ignite Graham, Charlotte’s leading scorer this season, who knocked down two more 3s for a 10-point lead with six minutes left as part of a 23-11 run to begin the fourth.
Monk had five his career-high 10 rebounds in the fourth quarter, including a putback dunk off a missed 3-pointer by Rozier to seal the game with 42 seconds left.
“I was attacking the rim, wasn’t being too passive and just looking to score first,” Monk said.
Hornets coach James Borrego said it was Monk’s best game of the season.
“He was fantastic on both ends of the floor,” Borrego said. “To have 10 rebounds is just a credit to his engagement on that end of the floor. Rebounding, defending, attacking the rim. I thought he was fantastic tonight. Really proud of his effort tonight. Our bench tonight was great.”
Fox returned after missing 17 games with left ankle sprain and led the Kings (12-15) with 19 points. He played 30 minutes despite supposedly being on a minutes restriction.
“It was nice to get De’Aaron Fox back out there,” Kings coach Luke Walton said. “I thought he looked good and was moving well, created some good looks and opportunities for us and we will continue to get better and learn from this game.”
Source: Manila Bulletin
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