Houston Rockets and Charlotte Hornets are two NBA teams that are known for their fierce competition on the court. These two teams have met several times over the years, with each game providing fans with an exciting and entertaining experience. In this post, we will explore the history of this rivalry, highlight the strengths and weaknesses of each team, and provide insights into what fans can expect from the next matchup between these two teams.
06 APRIL 2023
TIME: 07:00 PM ET
The rivalry between the Houston Rockets and Charlotte Hornets dates back to the early 1990s when the Hornets joined the NBA as an expansion team. In the 1994-1995 season, the Rockets were on a mission to defend their NBA championship title, while the Hornets were looking to make a name for themselves in the league.
The Rockets won the first meeting between the two teams, but the Hornets came back and won the next two games. This set the tone for a competitive and exciting rivalry between the two teams that has continued to this day.
Since then, the Rockets and the Hornets have played each other 48 times, with the Rockets leading the overall series with 28 wins to the Hornets’ 20 wins. The largest margin of victory for the Rockets was 35 points in a game played in 1998, while the Hornets’ largest margin of victory was 22 points in a game played in 2019. The two teams have faced each other in the playoffs only once, in 1997, with the Rockets winning the series 3-1.
The Houston Rockets are a team that is known for its offense. Led by James Harden, the Rockets have been one of the most potent offensive teams in the league for the past few years. Harden is a scoring machine, averaging over 30 points per game in the 2019-2020 season. However, the Rockets have struggled on defense, giving up an average of 114.8 points per game in the same season. This weakness has been a factor in the Rockets’ inability to make deep runs in the playoffs.
On the other hand, the Charlotte Hornets are a team that is known for its defense. Led by the likes of Michael Kidd-Gilchrist and Bismack Biyombo, the Hornets have been one of the best defensive teams in the league in recent years. In the 2019-2020 season, the Hornets gave up an average of only 110.7 points per game. However, the Hornets have struggled on offense, scoring an average of only 102.9 points per game in the same season. This weakness has been a factor in the Hornets’ inability to make the playoffs in recent years.