Smith racked up 19 points (8-13 FG, 2-5 3Pt, 1-1 FT), six rebounds and five assists over 34 minutes during Friday's 117-116 victory over San Antonio.
Smith scored at least 19 points for the fourth straight game despite the return of LaMelo Ball from an ankle injury. Smith has been somewhat of a revelation for the Hornets, having now started 12 straight games. During that time he has averaged 13.7 points, 2.8 assists and 2.3 three-pointers in 30.0 minutes per game. The arrival of Dalton Knecht could complicate things, although given the Hornets have both eyes on the future, Smith remaining in the starting lineup would make sense.
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Hornets' Nick Smith: Another strong outing Wednesday
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Smith finished Wednesday's 112-102 loss to the Bucks with 22 points (9-15 FG, 4-8 3Pt, 0-1 FT), two assists and two rebounds over 32 minutes.
Two days after scoring a season-high 24 points in Monday's loss to the Wizards, Smith answered with a 22-point outing in Wednesday's defeat and was the game's third-leading scorer behind Damian Lillard (29) and Bobby Portis (23). Smith has been in the Hornets' starting lineup since Jan. 17, and he's taken on a larger role on offense due to the absence of LaMelo Ball (ankle). Over his last three outings, Smith has averaged 22.0 points on 58.1 percent shooting (including 56.5 percent from three on 7.7 3PA/G), 2.3 rebounds, 2.0 assists and 0.7 steals over 34.8 minutes per contest. Smith and the Hornets will look to break out of their six-game losing streak against Victor Wembanyama and the new-look Spurs on Friday.
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Hornets' Nick Smith: Season-high 24 points vs. Wiz
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Smith finished Monday's 124-114 loss to Washington with 24 points (9-16 FG, 4-7 3Pt, 2-2 FT), four rebounds, two assists and one steal over 39 minutes.
Smith connected on four threes for the fourth time this season Monday and co-led the Hornets in scoring with Miles Bridges. Smith went back and forth between the Hornets and the G League affiliate Greensboro Swarm over the first two months of the season, but he strung together some solid performances at the beginning of the new year, which earned him a spot in the Hornets' starting lineup Jan. 17. Since then, Smith has averaged 12.2 points, 2.8 rebounds and 2.6 assists over 29.3 minutes per game.
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Hornets' Nick Smith: Struggles in loss
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Smith had two points (1-10 FG, 0-7 3Pt), five rebounds and two assists across 27 minutes during Wednesday's 104-83 loss to the Nets.
Smith failed to score double-digit points for the third straight outing Wednesday. Since being inserted into the starting lineup on Jan. 17, Smith has struggled mightily with his outside shot, converting just 26.1 percent of his 6.6 three-point attempts per contest. On the season, the 20-year-old guard is shooting 36.4 percent from the field.
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Hornets' Nick Smith: Inefficient 17 points in loss
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Smith closed Friday's 102-97 loss to the Trail Blazers with 17 points (6-18 FG, 2-10 3Pt, 3-3 FT), five rebounds, six assists and two blocks in 34 minutes.
With the majority of Charlotte's starters in street clothes, the Hornets' offense ran through Smith on Friday. The 20-year-old second-year guard led the team with 17 points and six assists, but he struggled with efficiency shooting the ball with a lack of offensive firepower surrounding him. Smith has been forced into a featured role over his past four games, during which he's averaged 15.0 points, 3.5 rebounds, 3.0 assists, 0.8 steals and 2.8 threes in 30.3 minutes, and he should continue to handle extra usage with Brandon Miller (wrist) done for the season.
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Hornets' Nick Smith: Notches 19 points in win
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Smith chipped in 19 points (7-13 FG, 5-8 3Pt), three rebounds, one assist and one steal across 30 minutes during Monday's 110-105 win over Dallas.
Brandon Miller is out indefinitely with a wrist injury, and Smith looks poised to make a significant impact for Charlotte in the short term. In his previous start against the Bulls on Friday, Smith produced 15 points (6-12 FG, 3-7 3Pt), five rebounds, one assist and one steal in 26 minutes. He'll be a popular waiver-wire pickup for good reason.
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Hornets' Nick Smith: Posts 15 points as fill-in
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Smith supplied 15 points (6-12 FG, 3-7 3Pt), five rebounds, one assist and one steal in 26 minutes during Friday's 125-123 win over the Bulls.
Smith's playing time is projected to increase following Brandon Miller's (wrist) injury diagnosis. With Miller out indefinitely, the 2023 first-round pick drew the start and flashed the sharpshooting skills that made him a hot commodity coming out of Arkansas. Although the Hornets are floundering in the Eastern Conference, players like LaMelo Ball, Miles Bridges and Mark Williams are playing well, which will give Smith some fantasy worthiness if he can hold on to the job.
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Hornets' Nick Smith: First career start Friday
Rotowire
Smith will start Friday's game against the Bulls.
It'll be the first career start for the former first-rounder Friday, and he'll have a chance to offer a boost in fantasy value. Over his past four games, Smith is averaging 8.5 points, 3.3 rebounds, 2.3 assists and 2.0 threes in 18.6 minutes.
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Hornets' Nick Smith: Best outing of season off bench
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Smith totaled 18 points (7-12 FG, 4-6 3Pt), five rebounds, two assists and one block across 19 minutes during Sunday's 115-105 loss to Cleveland.
Even with Brandon Miller (ankle) and LaMelo Ball (wrist, ankle) returning to action, Smith shined off the Hornets bench in Sunday's contest, leading all second-unit players in scoring, threes made and blocks in a season-best showcase. Smith set a new season-high point total, reaching double figures in scoring for the first time this year. He has connected on two or more threes in three appearances off the bench.
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Hornets' Nick Smith: Back with parent club
Rotowire
The Hornets recalled Smith from the G League's Greensboro Swarm on Friday.
Smith will rejoin the Hornets ahead of Friday's game against Detroit. The 20-year-old saw action in just five of the Hornets' 12 December games, averaging 4.2 points, 1.4 rebounds and 1.0 assists in 11.2 minutes per contest.
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Hornets' Nick Smith: Headed to G League
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The Hornets assigned Smith to the G League's Greensboro Swarm on Thursday.
Smith tallied four points (1-1 FG, 1-1 3Pt, 1-2 FT) in four minutes during Charlotte's most recent outing against Houston on Monday. However, the second-year guard should receive increased playing time while in the G League.
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Hornets' Nick Smith: Back from G League
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Charlotte recalled Smith from the G League's Greensboro Swarm on Sunday.
After erupting for 33 points (11-20 FG, 3-7 3Pt, 5-5 FT), four rebounds, three blocks, two assists and one steal in 34 minutes in his most recent appearance in the Swarm's win over the South Bay Lakers on Thursday, Smith will return to the parent club. He's unlikely to be featured in the rotation in Monday's game against the Rockets.
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Hornets' Nick Smith: Recalled by parent club
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The Hornets recalled Smith from the G League's Greensboro Swarm on Friday.
Smith has appeared in five NBA games this season, averaging 4.6 minutes per game. He'll rejoin the parent club ahead of the Hornets' matchup with the Bucks on Saturday, and he could see some minutes due to Tre Mann's (back) absence.
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Hornets' Nick Smith: Assigned to G League
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Charlotte assigned Smith to the G League's Greensboro Swarm on Monday.
This will be Smith's first G League assignment of the season. He's hardly seen the floor for Charlotte, averaging 4.6 minutes across five appearances.
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Hornets' Nick Smith: Good to go Friday
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Smith (illness) is available for Friday's game versus the Pacers.
Smith was a late addition to the injury report due to an illness but will play through it against Indiana. Smith has averaged 3.5 points in 9.0 minutes across his two appearances this season.
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Hornets' Nick Smith: To be reevaluated in one week
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Smith sustained a left groin injury during training camp that will cause him to miss Sunday's preseason opener against the Knicks, and he is set to be reevaluated in one week.
Smith sustained the injury near the end of training camp, and it is unclear whether he will be back for Opening Night of the regular season. The 20-year-old is coming off a decent but somewhat inconsistent rookie season, during which he averaged 5.9 points, 1.4 rebounds and 1.2 assists across 14.3 minutes per game in 51 regular-season outings. If Smith is out for an extended period of time, KJ Simpson and Vasilije Micic are both candidates to pick up minutes off the bench.
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Hornets' Nick Smith: Leads bench in scoring vs. Boston
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Smith finished with 15 points (5-12 FG, 3-6 3Pt, 2-2 FT), three rebounds and two assists in 29 minutes during Friday's 131-98 loss to the Celtics.
Smith's 15 points Friday marked the first time he's reached double-digit scoring since Feb. 9 against the Bucks. He's spent time in the G League with the Greensboro Swarm, but with the Hornets down several players due to injury, Smith could see another heavy workload in Sunday's regular-season finale against the Cavaliers.
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Hornets' Nick Smith: Back with Hornets
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The Hornets recalled Smith from the G League's Greensboro Swarm on Wednesday.
The arrival of several new players last week in the aftermath of the trade deadline resulted in Smith getting pushed out of the rotation and assigned to Greensboro, where he'll likely get the chance to play extended minutes. Though he's back with Charlotte for Wednesday's game versus Atlanta, Smith is uncertain to re-emerge in head coach Steve Clifford's rotation.
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Hornets' Nick Smith: Impressive three-point efficiency
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Smith racked up 12 points (4-10 FG, 3-4 3Pt, 1-1 FT) and one steal over 21 minutes during Friday's 126-106 loss to Oklahoma City.
Smith's skinny frame and lack of true point-guard instincts give him a learning curve as a rookie, but his three-point shooting has been off-the-charts. He connected on just 33.8 percent of 4.2 threes per game during his one-and-done campaign at Arkansas last year, so his 47.9 percent clip through 94 attempts thus far is a revelation.
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Hornets' Nick Smith: Hits two triples in win
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Smith closed with six points (2-3 FG, 2-3 3Pt), one assist and two blocks across 14 minutes during Tuesday's 111-104 victory over Sacramento.
With Charlotte shorthanded, Smith has played double-digit minutes in nine straight games, averaging 8.1 points on 45.2 percent shooting during that stretch. He should continue to garner a modest bench role as long as LaMelo Ball (ankle), Brandon Miller (hip) and Gordon Hayward (calf) remain out, but Smith isn't producing enough to be on fantasy radars in standard leagues.