Hornets’ bench takes a major hit with loss of their top reserve due to COVID protocols
.JPG "Charlotte Hornets guard Kelly Oubre Jr. (12) has entered the NBA’s health and safety protocols.")
Don’t expect to see kisses blown into the stands for a while.
Kelly Oubre, the Charlotte Hornets versatile swingman, has landed in health and safety protocols and wasn’t available for Monday’s 103-99 win over Milwaukee at Spectrum Center. Unless he can produce two negative PCR tests within a 24-hour span, that means Oubre is likely going to miss the next three games beginning with their matchup with the Bucks before potentially making his return in New York against the Knicks during the Martin Luther King Jr. Day matinee.
His loss is a blow to the Hornets’ bench and comes less than a week after his record-breaking performance in their win over Detroit when he drained a personal-best nine 3-pointers and tied an NBA record — breaking the franchise mark in the process — with eight made 3-pointers in the fourth quarter. Oubre is averaging 16.6 points and 3.9 rebounds per game and is just one of three reserves in the league to post 20 points or more in three straight games. The Hornets are 7-3 when Oubre registers at least 20 points off the bench.
“He’s given us so much offensively -- the 3-point shooting, the ability to stretch the floor offensively” coach James Borrego said. “We’re going to miss that. But I expect our defense to pick up. We’re going to have to make up for it on the defensive end.
“Obviously, we need shots to go. But I’m going to rely on those guys coming in off the bench to give us a spark defensively in his absence. We’ve got capable men that can step up and make shots as well. We’ll just find it in different ways.”
Oubre entered the week ranked sixth in the NBA in made 3-pointers with 114 and the 83 3-pointers he’s connected on as a reserve puts him fourth in that category among non-starters.
In short, he’s been really clutch and the Hornets are going to have to somehow replace his hot shooting. Cody Martin and Jalen McDaniels are expected to pick up the bulk of the extra minutes in Oubre’s absence.
“We definitely miss K.O.,” LaMelo Ball said. “I feel like he’s a great player. He can slash, shoot, play defense. So that’s self-explanatory. Obviously, if you are missing all that you are missing somebody. But we hung in there, took the ‘dub’ and hopefully he’ll come back soon.”
Oubre is just the latest key player for the Hornets to be sidelined due to health and safety protocols. So far, the only ones who have not been affected during the regular season are Gordon Hayward, Nick Richards, James Bouknight, Kai Jones, Arnoldas Kulboka and JT Thor.
“Yeah, the last two years, same thing,” Borrego said. “Nothing changes here. We just keep playing. Next man up, great opportunity. Every individual in that room has stepped us this season. Rookies have stepped up, veterans have stepped up. It’s a great opportunity for someone else now to have an impact on the game. So, plenty of capable bodies to help us.”
This story was originally published January 10, 2022 at 4:23 PM with the headline "Hornets’ bench takes a major hit with loss of their top reserve due to COVID protocols."
