Charlotte Hornets point guard Kemba Walker is slated to miss his first game of the season today with a left shoulder contusion, suffered on Saturday against the San Antonio Spurs. Michael Carter-Williams will get the start in his place, also opening up a spot for Malik Monk to back him up, according to Rick Bonnell of The Charlotte Observer.
Hybrid guard Julyan Stone is also listed as probable against the Toronto Raptors and should see some floor time if he's a go tonight.
“Whether Kemba plays or not, I’m gonna be ready to go,” Carter-Williams said Tuesday. “Like I’ve been saying all season, just trying to do anything for the team to win.”
Carter-Williams will get the nod due to his NBA experience, but perhaps this opportunity is more crucial for Monk, who at 6-foot-3 and 200 pounds, can pose a Chauncey Billups-like opportunity to be groomed at the position, despite playing shooting guard through high school and college.
The Hornets have lost their last two and will need a ton of firepower to replace the 22.3 points per game that Walker brings to the table. They'll go against a Raptors team that sits fourth in the East and has won seven of its last 10 games.
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