The First Spark

The first real win of the Daniel Carter era came on a Tuesday in Milwaukee, in a game the national schedule had buried beneath two contenders and a documentary premiere. Charlotte entered as fourteen-point underdogs. The home broadcast spent the first quarter explaining why the Hornets were interesting only as a warning. Then Tyrese Grant picked up the opposing star at ninety-four feet and made him work to cross half court. Jamal Brooks dropped into the paint with his hands high, not jumping, simply occupying space like a locked gate. Luka Petrovic touched the ball on five straight possessions without taking a shot, each pass arriving half a second before the defense expected it. Marcus Reed did not score until the second quarter. That was new.