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The Charlotte Hornets closed out their preseason slate on Friday night with a road matchup against the Memphis Grizzlies. Charlotte had entered the game with a 1-2 record in exhibition play, having secured a win over the Milwaukee Bucks while falling to the Brooklyn Nets and Boston Celtics.
Turnovers continued to plague the Hornets, who coughed up the ball 24 times and ultimately suffered a 117-98 defeat. Despite the loss, rookie center Hannes Steinbach delivered the most encouraging performance of the night, posting his best preseason outing. The German international notched his first double-double, scoring 19 points on an efficient 7-of-9 shooting to go with 10 rebounds and three steals.
Steinbach's international teammate, Christian Anderson Jr., also contributed solid minutes off the bench, adding 15 points, six assists, two rebounds, and one steal.
Looking ahead, Charlotte will open the 2026-27 regular season on Wednesday with a road game against the Brooklyn Nets. The availability of Coby White, Kon Knueppel, and Grant Williams has not yet been announced. The Hornets' home opener is scheduled for Friday, Oct. 23, against the Atlanta Hawks.
Key Analysis
While the turnover issues that have hindered Charlotte throughout the preseason persisted in the finale, Steinbach's emergence offers a promising glimpse of frontcourt depth. His efficient scoring and activity on the defensive end (three steals) suggest he could carve out a rotational role early in the season. The status of White, Knueppel, and Williams will be worth monitoring as the team finalizes its rotation for the regular-season opener.
Originally reported by yahoo.