When asked about his newfound comfort on the court, the second-year guard gave credit to his old coach, former Hornets head coach Steve Clifford.

Five players scored in double figures for the Hornets, including Nick Smith Jr. with 17, but that wasn’t enough as the Trail Blazers pulled away down the stretch, with most of Charlotte’s opening-night starters on the bench.

The Charlotte Hornets fell to the Portland Trail Blazers 102-97, but there was some positives to take away from that game. Despite being shorthanded, missing LaMelo Ball and Miles Bridges due with injuries,