Charlotte Hornets small forward Michael Kidd-Gilchrist suffered a dislocated right shoulder during the second half of Wednesday’s 117-95 road victory over the Indiana Pacers.
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For the Pacers, it was an abysmal night. But the Pacers fell victim to second-quarter runs of 17-4 and 11-2, putting the Pacers in a 17-point hole entering the second half at The Fieldhouse. Lin struggled in his six of the last seven games but played better Wednesday night to help the Hornets to their third win in a row and five of the last six games. Kemba Walker led the Hornets with 25 points, not even hitting a single one of Charlotte’s 12 three pointers while IN as a team shot 4-18. He has been limited to seven games this season since having surgery on the shoulder….
Kidd-Gilchrist was taken to an Indianapolis hospital where doctors would pop the shoulder back into the joint.
With next Thursday’s trade deadline looming and the Pacers maybe in the market for a move, speculation has swirled around Hill. The Pacers can relate to the roller-coaster nature of the season’s nominal first half and hope to head into the All-Star break with a little momentum after barely surviving the Los Angeles Lakers in an 89-87 win on Monday. But before Wednesday’s game, coach Frank Vogel said he has ignored the rumor mill and expects his players to do the same – though he did not feel it was necessary to have that conversation with his team.
Hornets: Marvin Williams made two 3s to give him 90 this season – five short of the career high he set last season….
Hill’s timetable for return has yet to be determined, but any sort of extended absence would put the Pacers in a bind as it pertains to frontcourt depth.
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The third quarter was reminiscent of the second, with the Hornets absolutely obliterating IN on both ends and eventually stretching their lead to 25 points. Turner himself had 10 points, but eight of those came in the first quarter, his impact minimized as the game progressed. Backup guard Rodney Stuckey has missed 15 consecutive games with a sprained right foot and a bone bruise. They don’t play again until a trip to Milwaukee to play the Bucks Feb. 19.
