Hornets Grab Early Edge as Bucks Feel the Pressure in Charlotte
As things got underway in Charlotte, the Milwaukee Bucks once again found themselves in a position where every possession felt heavy. With the 2025–26 regular season already past its early phase and just 50 games remaining, there isn’t much room left for mistakes, especially for a team trying to climb out of the Eastern Conference basement. Against the rebuilding Charlotte Hornets, this was the kind of matchup that simply could not be taken lightly.
After the first quarter at Spectrum Center, it was the Hornets who held a slim 26–25 lead. That one-point edge told a bigger story. Milwaukee struggled to find rhythm offensively, as shots were made at just a 39% clip overall and only 33% from three-point range. Meanwhile, Charlotte leaned on LaMelo Ball early, and his eight first-quarter points set the tone. The Hornets didn’t overwhelm the Bucks, but they were steady, composed, and confident.
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What made the moment more uncomfortable for Milwaukee was the context. Charlotte entered the night with one of the league’s worst records, and the Bucks had already dropped a game to them earlier in the season. Another loss would put Milwaukee at serious risk of losing the season tiebreaker to a team that’s clearly in rebuilding mode. For a franchise with postseason expectations, that reality has been hard to ignore.
Before tip-off, head coach Doc Rivers openly acknowledged the pressure surrounding his group. A 13–19 record, combined with a long list of injuries, has left the Bucks in scramble mode. It was made clear that urgency no longer needs to be manufactured—it already exists. Milwaukee came into the night sitting 11th in the East, fully outside the playoff picture, and just chasing the final play-in spot.
There was some optimism, though, especially with Giannis Antetokounmpo back on the floor. After missing more than three weeks with a calf injury, he returned recently on a 25-minute restriction and immediately made an impact. Even in limited time, his presence has changed the feel of the team, and his availability against Charlotte was a much-needed boost.
Still, the Bucks know that moral victories won’t count. They are searching for consecutive wins for the first time since late October and are still winless in that category on the road. With another matchup against the Hornets looming in just a few days, this game felt like more than just another date on the schedule. As the first quarter ended, Charlotte had the lead, and Milwaukee was once again left chasing answers, knowing that time is no longer on its side.
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