Charlotte Hornets head coach Charles Lee highlighted focus and collective execution after a 110-96 road win over the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden, sealing the No. 9 seed in the Eastern Conference play-in picture.
Lee said the team’s approach from the opening tip set the tone, noting, “I thought that they came in understanding what the day meant, what the game meant.”
He emphasized the urgency surrounding the regular-season finale and the consistency shown by his group. “We had something to play for, and the group came out with the right focus, the right intensity that we needed and I’m super proud of them.”
The Hornets maintained control even after New York briefly shifted momentum, and Lee credited the response within the group. “We came into the huddle, we kind of reset, refocused, we talked about some things, areas that we could get better.”
He added that adjustments on the floor translated quickly, saying, “They flipped the switch and I think that we got a lot of key contributions from some of our reserves. And I think at the right time our starters kind of stepped up too.”
Charlotte used a balanced scoring effort led by LaMelo Ball and Brandon Miller with 19 points each, while Coby White also added 19 points off the bench in a rotation-heavy performance that reflected Lee’s emphasis on depth.
Looking at the broader season context, Lee focused on development across the roster, stating, “Just seeing all the growth and development from everybody.”
He pointed to multiple milestones within the group, adding, “We have some guys that have had career years. We got a rookie that played all 82 games. We got the rookie of the year on our team. We got a guy that could be all NBA.”
Lee also connected the team’s progress to organizational momentum beyond the NBA roster, noting, “There’s just so much to the win streaks. A coach that could be coach of the year. But I’m just proud of the group and I’m just happy that the whole hive is thriving. We got a G League championship as well.”
With the play-in game set against Miami, Lee stressed the importance of representing the city and maintaining competitive identity. “This team has shown the city what we’re about. We’re about competing. We’re about being together.”
Charlotte’s path now includes a win-or-go-home scenario, with Lee emphasizing the stakes. “It gives you an opportunity and that’s all you can ask for.”
The Hornets finished the regular season 44-38, closing on strong form to secure postseason positioning after a late-season push.
