Hornets' Road Streak Ends, Free-Throw Disparity Sparks Debate

0:00It's March 9th, here's your Charlotte Hornets news in two minutes, subscribe to stay locked in all season. The Charlotte Hornets saw their road winning streak end, with a 111 to 99 loss to the Phoenix Sons on Sunday night. This marked back-to-back defeats for the team, which had been on a hot run away from home. The Mellow Ball played a big role, but frustratingly had zero free throw attempts, all game. Meanwhile, Sun's star Devon Booker got 15 trips to the line, matching the total free throw attempts for the entire Hornets team. Ball shoots over 90% from the striped this season, so missing those chances left easy points on the table. His average sits at just 2.4 attempts per game, well below league leaders. Fans and analysts are pointing to officiating as a key issue, with replays showing several uncalled fouls on Ball's drives. He's grown a lot this year, staying calmer and attacking the rim more aggressively, but the whistle hasn't followed consistently. The Hornets counter this by leading the league as number two and three pointers made

1:01per game, relying on outside shooting that refs can't easily disrupt. That strategy has kept them competitive despite early season hurdles. No need for panic yet after just two losses, but the road trip continues and another slip could raise concerns for this young squad. The daily news now is made possible with support from our sponsor. If earbuds fall out when you sleep, this is for you, a pillow with built-in sound, S-O-L-I-SoliPillow.com.