The Charlotte Hornets defeated the Detroit Pistons 105-102 in Spectrum Center in front of team owner, Michael Jordan, 500 healthcare workers, and 3,000 fans. This was their first time allowing fans to attend a home game this season and they came away with a win in a tightly contested game.
With Jordan in attendance, Terry Rozier was able to seal the game in the fourth quarter by scoring 12 of the Hornets' last 15 points with under three minutes to go. He has been the Hornets' go-to scorer all season long in clutch time and coach James Borrego knows it.
MJ WAS LOVING TERRY ROZIER'S DAGGER pic.twitter.com/S8U3lQ5Vgx
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) March 12, 2021
“That’s rare. He’s very comfortable in those moments. It’s almost like he’s more locked in the tighter the game is. That’s rare at any level, much less at this level. He’s fantastic. He’s been great, he’s been a closer for us all season and he did it again tonight. I think 12 points in the last three minutes – I think 12 of our last 15 points came out of Terry’s hand. He’s been fantastic and we didn’t get him much touches. We have a number of guys right now, so he didn’t get many touches tonight, but in those closing moments, he’s as comfortable as anybody right now,” Borrego said on Rozier's performance in front of Michael Jordan.
“Yeah, and I call that fearless – he’s fearless. And he’s going to bear the responsibility, make or miss. Many players in this league aren’t willing to go there, they’re not willing to take that risk. Terry’s fine with it, he’s going to live with the result, but he plays with that fearlessness down the stretch. And I think that’s why he shoots it so well; he thinks it’s going in. It’s special – it’s special to have a closer like that.”
Being able to step up in clutch time is huge for any player and the man watching on the sideline knows a thing or two about big shots. Michael Jordan was courtside watching his team handle business tonight. He was pretty animated while cheering his team on and maybe Rozier felt his boss's presence in the room.
“Its always an honor to play in front of the goat,” Rozier said of Michael Jordan's presence. “When he steps, his presence makes a difference. It was great for us to get a win in front of him. Can't say anything else about that.”
Jordan still has that kind of effect on this current generation of players. Rozier and the other players are on high alert whenever he decides to make an appearance to any game, shoot around, or even practice. The Hornets take on the Raptors in Charlotte on March 13th. Maybe Jordan will be in attendance again to light a fire under his players from the stands.
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