Both Grant Riller and Nate Darling made their NBA debuts this season as two-way players for the Charlotte Hornets, with both guards showcasing interesting skillsets that could further expand with increased experience and development.
Riller was taken with the 56th overall pick in the 2020 NBA Draft out of the College of Charleston, while Darling was signed as an undrafted free agent following a three-season collegiate career at Delaware and UAB. The former was penciled in as more of a ball-handling lead guard and the latter was viewed as a catch-and-shoot, more off-the-ball option.
Each player appeared in seven NBA games at about four minutes per contest; Riller recorded 2.6 points on 66.7% shooting (2-of-4 from three) and 0.4 assists, while Darling put up 1.3 points on 28.6% shooting (all three-point attempts; 2-of-7). In the G League, the Riller started 11 games and averaged 13.1 points on 49% shooting (46.2% from three) and 3.5 assists, with Darling adding on 8.9 points on 33.
Detroit plays Charlotte on 6-game road skid
April 30, 2021 By The Associated Press
Detroit Pistons (19-44, 15th in the Eastern Conference) vs. Charlotte Hornets (30-32, eighth in the Eastern Conference)
Charlotte; Saturday, 7 p.m. EDT
BOTTOM LINE: Detroit will try to break its six-game road losing streak when the Pistons take on Charlotte.
The Hornets are 17-18 in Eastern Conference games. Charlotte is eighth in the Eastern Conference in team defense, giving up just 111.3 points while holding opponents to 46.7% shooting.
The Pistons have gone 12-24 against Eastern Conference opponents. Detroit averages 42.9 rebounds per game and is 6-26 when opponents win the rebound battle.
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Charlotte Hornets vs Boston Celtics: Injury report, predicted lineups and starting 5s - April 28th, 2021 | NBA Season 2020-21
Jaylen Brown (#7) of the Boston Celtics looks to shoot over Miles Bridges (#0) of the Charlotte Hornets.
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Action continues in the 2020-21 NBA with an Eastern Conference showdown between the Charlotte Hornets and the Boston Celtics at the TD Garden on Wednesday. Both sides have split their two meetings this season.
The visiting Charlotte Hornets have been struggling to stay in postseason contention in the East. James Borrego s men have lost seven of their past ten games to drop to 30-31 on the season. The eighth-placed Charlotte Hornets find themselves as the eighth seed and are just one game ahead of the ninth-placed Indiana Pacers.
5. Vernon Carey Jr.
Injury Report: Gordon Hayward OUT (foot), LaMelo Ball (wrist) OUT, Malik Monk OUT (ankle), Nate Darling OUT (ankle)
What to Watch For …
• Another depleted opponent … another game I’m not sure which Bulls team will show up. After surprisingly beating Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown the Bulls decided to lay a massive egg against a Cavaliers team they beat by double digits only a couple of nights before. The first line of defense let Collin Sexton and Darius Garland combine for 55 points, 11 assists, and 6 rebounds. Not to mention, the Cavs sank 16 three-pointers, which tied their 3rd-highest mark on the season. I wish I could say the Bulls backcourt has an easier matchup tonight, but they don’t. Terry Rozier and Devonte’ Graham are two players who know how to hit the deep ball. Rozier is shooting 40.5 percent from behind the arc while Graham is knocking down his shots at a 37.5 percent clip.