Charlotte's Bombs Away: A New Era of Hornets Hoops?

By Maya Johnson · Published 2026-03-25 · Hornets tie franchise record with 26 3s, rout Kings 134-90

Twenty-six made threes. Let that sink in. The Charlotte Hornets didn't just beat the Sacramento Kings on Tuesday night; they absolutely annihilated them, 134-90, tying a franchise record for long-range bombs. Coby White, the orchestrator, dropped 27 points, draining six of those triples himself. He was surgical, efficient, and, frankly, looked like a different player than the one we’ve seen in stretches this season.

This wasn't some fluke. The Hornets have now won four straight, and while two of those were against the Wizards, a win's a win. They're playing with a pace and confidence that felt absent just a few weeks ago. Against the Kings, they shot 26-for-50 from beyond the arc. That's 52% from three. Sacramento, meanwhile, managed just 8-for-34. That 18-shot difference from deep tells the whole story of a 44-point blowout. Miles Bridges added 22 points, and Brandon Miller chipped in 20, including four threes of his own. This team is suddenly finding its rhythm, and it’s a beautiful thing to watch.

The White Hot Hand and a Deeper Bench

Look, we've talked about Coby White's potential for years. We've seen flashes. But this recent stretch? It feels different. Over his last five games, White is averaging 24.2 points and 5.6 assists. He's shooting 47.6% from three in that span. That's not just good; that's All-Star caliber production. He’s attacking the rim, finding open teammates, and most importantly, his shot selection has improved dramatically. The Hornets need this version of White every single night if they want to make any noise in the Eastern Conference.

Thing is, it’s not just White. The Hornets bench outscored the Kings' reserves 53-29. Nick Richards pulled down 11 rebounds in just 19 minutes. Vasilije Micić, the veteran guard, dished out 8 assists. Even Davis Bertans hit three triples in limited action. This depth, coupled with the return of key players, is giving Charlotte a much-needed boost. They’re finally looking like a complete team, not just a collection of individual talents. My hot take? If White maintains this level of play, he's a legitimate Most Improved Player candidate.

Can They Sustain It?

Real talk: the Hornets have been maddeningly inconsistent for years. We’ve seen them string together a few wins, only to fall back into old habits. But this win, against a Kings team that was 8th in the Western Conference coming into the game, felt different. It wasn’t just the shooting; it was the defensive effort, holding Sacramento to 36.5% from the field. De'Aaron Fox, a legitimate star, was held to 14 points on 5-for-16 shooting. Domantas Sabonis managed a double-double with 13 points and 10 rebounds, but he was largely ineffective against the Hornets’ more aggressive interior defense.

The schedule gets tougher from here. They face the Warriors and the Blazers on the road next. Those are winnable games, but they’ll require the same intensity and focus. The question isn't whether they can hit 26 threes again; it's whether they can consistently play with this level of defensive commitment and offensive flow. If they do, they could surprise a lot of people. I'm predicting the Hornets finish the season above .500, a feat many thought impossible a month ago.