By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
On the verge of elimination from the 2024 NBA Playoffs, the Charlotte Hornets are making the most of the remaining games in the Regular Season. Standing out on Saturday, Davis Bertans put up 16 points, a new individual best for the 2023-24 campaign.
“It is a next man up mentality. Especially on this team, there is been a lot of injuries lately,” explained the Latvian forward after the losing display versus the Philadelphia 76ers in Wells Fargo Center on NBA Saturdays, “Everybody has to be ready.”
Bertans, 31, started his eighth NBA campaign at the Oklahoma City Thunder, shifting to the Hornets on the Trade Deadline alongside Serbian Vasilije Micic, among more players traded. Similar to his fellow European counterpart, improving averages across the board paired with moving to the franchise based in North Carolina. From 2.9 points and 6.1 minutes per contest, he went up to 8.6 points, 2.1 rebounds, and 1.1 assists over 19.8 minutes per game under the guidance of head coach Steve Clifford.
Down to 17-51 and 17 games outside the Play-In zone of the Eastern Conference, the Hornets continue a four-game road trip against the Orlando Magic on Tuesday, before visiting the Atlanta Hawks on the next installment of NBA Saturdays and the Cleveland Cavaliers next Monday.
“We finally have two days between games,” noted Bertans, “Just get some rest tomorrow and then practice the day after and hopefully then we have everybody charged up to go full speed in Orlando.”