The Hornets suffer a stinging blow amid their comeback run. Taking on the LA Clippers, the odds were stacked against them right from the tip-off. After putting up a tough fight in the first half, LaMelo Ball & Co. looked like they lost the plot again. The Charlotte side kept the deficit under one arm’s distance until the LA side produced a sudden surge in the 3rd quarter. To worsen the situation, Josh Okogie, who put up an all-around effort off the bench, exited the court in pain.

The 6’4 shooting guard was a defensive menace on the court, leaving the LA offense to run for their money. Tonight, in his 14 minutes, he collected 3 steals and 2 blocks. At the same time, it was during one of those steals that he injured himself. Around the 4th minute mark, James Harden danced in front of Okogie, teasing the defender with his dribbles at the perimeter.

Before the Beard could think of his next move, Josh Okogie stole the ball and was on his way for a fast-break bucket. It was during the unsteady run to the rim he injured his hamstring. The 26-year-old looked visibly in pain, yet he managed to drop the layup and collected a foul as well. After making the free throw, the guard exited the court. The team later announced the star won’t return for the rest of the game, citing a hamstring injury.

Josh Okogie, in his 14-minute stay, added 8 points to the Hornets’ total with a 3-7 FG. His true talent, however, shone on defense, where key stops kept his team in the game. He even helped the crowd believe the team could do it without LaMelo Ball and Brandon Miller.

After losing Josh Okogie, the Hornets fail to close the game

When Okogie exited the game, the Hornets were trailing by 6 points at 76-70. Following that, Vasilije Micić clocked in to replace the injured guard. It seemed like a blessing in disguise for the home side, as they began to make a run, trying to cut down the lead. At the start of the fourth quarter, the Hornets once again trailed by 10 points.

However, Micić, along with Moussa Diabate and Miles Bridges made a steady insurgence and brought the deficit down to two points at 97-95. The result could have gone in anyone’s favor with six-odd minutes left in the game. However, this is where experience and current form came into play. The LA side tightened the defense, completely strangling the Hornets’ offense, and allowed them only 9 points, after that. Meanwhile, the Clippers dropped 14 points and sealed the deal.

On the other hand, Josh Okogie won’t be able to return for a while. The team has revealed the severity of the hamstring. Depending upon the diagnosis, the guard may miss between 1 week to 3 months. Hopefully, it’s a minor niggle.

Anyway, what do you make of the Clippers’ fighting effort? Let us know in the comments.