Simmons Leads Hornets Past Jazz Despite Struggles at the Line

November 9, 2016

Hornets 114, Jazz 101 (Spectrum Center – Charlotte, NC)

The Charlotte Hornets continued their hot start to the season, picking up a 114-101 victory over the Utah Jazz at home.

Led by Ben Simmons’ 33-point performance, the Hornets controlled much of the game, but Utah didn’t go down without a fight, with Rudy Gobert, Gordon Hayward, and Rodney Hood all putting up big numbers.

In the end, Charlotte’s rebounding advantage, balanced scoring attack, and strong bench production sealed the win, improving them to 7-1 on the season.

Simmons Delivers, But Free Throws Remain a Concern

Simmons continued to be the engine of the Hornets’ offense, leading the team in scoring while also dishing out 8 assists and grabbing 5 rebounds.

Final stat line:

• 33 points (14-32 FG, 0-1 3PT, 5-10 FT)

• 5 rebounds

• 8 assists

• 1 steal

• 2 turnovers

While his aggressive play led to another big scoring night, his struggles at the free-throw line (5-of-10) were noticeable. The Jazz sent him to the line often, forcing him to earn his points, and while Charlotte had a comfortable lead for much of the night, his missed free throws left points on the board.

“I need to be better at the line,” Simmons admitted postgame. “I can’t leave easy points like that, especially against a team like Utah. But we got the win, and that’s what matters.”

Balanced Team Effort Fuels Victory

Unlike previous games where Simmons carried most of the scoring load, the Hornets saw key contributions from multiple players.

• Jeremy Lamb, Ramon Sessions, Jerami Grant, and Marco Belinelli all finished in double figures, providing much-needed bench scoring and perimeter shooting.

• The Hornets’ second unit put up 37 points, giving Charlotte a key edge in depth over Utah.

• Roy Hibbert continued to rebound well, grabbing 10 boards and helping Charlotte out-rebound Utah overall.

“We know Ben’s going to get his numbers,” said head coach Steve Clifford. “But when the bench comes in and gives us 37 points? That’s what wins games.”

Utah’s Stars Make It a Fight

Despite the loss, the Jazz played tough, led by their three-headed attack of Gobert, Hayward, and Hood:

• Rudy Gobert dominated inside, finishing with 24 points and 10 rebounds, proving difficult for Hibbert and Zeller to contain.

• Gordon Hayward added 20 points, hitting timely shots to keep the Jazz in striking distance.

• Rodney Hood was lights out from mid-range and deep, scoring 23 points.

Charlotte’s biggest lead was 16, but Utah kept chipping away, never letting the Hornets get too comfortable.

“They kept coming,” said Lamb. “Every time we thought we had them put away, they made another run. That’s a tough team.”

The Takeaway

With the win, Charlotte moves to 7-1, proving that this hot start isn’t just a fluke.

Simmons continues to put up superstar numbers, but the real story of this game was the team’s depth—if the Hornets’ bench can keep producing like this, they’ll be even harder to stop.

However, Simmons’ free throw struggles remain a lingering concern, and with tougher matchups ahead, teams may start testing him at the line even more.

For now, though, the Hornets keep rolling—and the fans in Charlotte have every reason to believe this team is for real.