Figuring how best to use Terry Rozier wasn’t going to be instantaneous. James Borrego is still experimenting. I wrote about that for tomorrow. Sure it’s something we’ll discuss when I’m on @WakeUpCall730 at 8:30.

It’s hard watching Houston play

Borrego during postgame: “I wanted a double team (on Morant), but it was tough to communicate in the heat of battle”

... so that was the plan coming out of the huddle or no? Not sure I understand that explanation from Borrego.

Ja Morant's layup beats the Hornets 119-117. Hornets now 4-7. Terry Rozier matches a career high with 33 points.

Ja Morant is a bad man.

That 3 brings Terry Rozier to 33 points, matching a career high

Grizzlies take a 112-102 lead, so Hornets have now had double-digit deficits in every game this season.

Rozier has shot it really well tonight, but he’s also stabilized @Charlotte Hornets offense. Calms the pace here, gets into paint, uses ball fakes and delivers accurate pass at basket. Hasn’t been the case this season often, but Rozier has really been under control in this game. pic.twitter.com/qQCQr0YxzM

Rough night for Devonte. Up to a team worst -18 in 27 min. 5 TOVs. Having Cody Martin parked in the corner hasn’t been the answer for this second unit group tonight.

Hornets trail by six. Turnovers piling up.

End of third: Hornets 96, Grizzlies 94. Hornets led earlier by as much as 12.

By my count, 5 of Rozier’s 6 3FG’s tonight have been catch-and-shoot. It was obvious before tonight he needed to play off the ball more often. This shooting performance has driven that point home. Rozier-Monk mins have been very positive. Important development for Borrego.

With that @Terry Rozier has six 3s tonight. His career high is eight.

Charlotte has gone under the screen against Morant almost exclusive so far in 2H. I think that has to be the strategy. Ja is so freaking good after turning the corner w/ defender on his back; hesitation dribble, head fakes, shoulder shimmies, etc. Dude can stop-and-go on demand.

Fourth foul on Cody Zeller.

By far Terry Rozier’s best game in a @Charlotte Hornets uniform. Love to see him catching and shooting without hesitation. Been more decisive and as a result has looked much better attacking the hoop from a ball screen.

With that, @Terry Rozier has 23 points, his most as a Hornet. His career high is 33.

It’s hard to tell who all Miles Bridges just jumped over! pic.twitter.com/gIsKms9qKK

Halftime: Hornets 64, Grizzlies 63.

A @Miles Bridges dunk tap that will be @SportsCenter worthy.

Hornets in the bonus the last 3 1/2 minutes of the half.

Terry Rozier's season high is 22 points. He's at 14 with five minutes left in the first half.

And @Cody Zeller, coming off a 24-point game in Philly, has nine points and four rebounds in nine minutes.

I doubt @cody_martin15 minutes tonight will exceed the 33 he played against the Pacers, but he'll play a lot tonight.

Nice start for @Malik Monk: Nine points in 8 minutes off 3-of-4 from the field.

Hornets have a timeout shoutout to the @CheckersHockey for their championship.

Per @HornetsPR, Cody Martin and Devonte Graham each has taken six charges this season, which puts them one off the most in the NBA this season.

Right on cue. Cody Martin w/ quick defensive rotation and perfect positioning w/ body to take charge. pic.twitter.com/g5NWW3b4qO

Hornets lead 21-19, after trailing by as much as nine. primarily by making 5 of their first 7 3s.

Floppy action to free up Rozier for the triple on the move. The more he’s off the ball, the better. Also, curious to see more of this Monk-Rozier backcourt combo. pic.twitter.com/raDCSGuILT

Rookie @cody_martin15 in for the Hornets. He might play plenty tonight with @Dwayne Bacon out.

Brevin Knight, now the Grizzlies TV analyst, said before the game Brandon Clarke playing really well. Clarke was the first player Hornets worked out for the lottery pick they ultimately used on P.J. Washington.

Malik Monk first Hornets in off the bench, replacing Devonte Graham.

A Cody Zeller 3 cuts the Grizzlies' lead to 17-13. Hornets are 3-of-5 from 3.

We're 1 1/2 minutes in The Grizzlies have six points in the paint. The Hornets have two turnovers.

Crowd seems happy to hear @Devonte Graham is starting.

Wow, hardly anyone here for tipoff of Hornets-Grizzlies.

Ja Morant's dribble-penetration is going to be a big problem for Hornets, who give up the most points in the paint in the NBA. It's not just Morant's drives, it's how what a defense must do to contain him will lead to Memphis offensive rebounds.

This is the fourth NBA start for @Devonte Graham and first this season. My story from this morning on what NBA rules allow if the @Charlotte Hornets wants to pursue avoiding him reaching free-agency in two summers: charlotteobserver.com/sports/charlot…

So @Devonte Graham starting tonight, replacing injured @Dwayne Bacon. First start of the season for Graham, who is the Hornets' leader in scoring and assists.

Grayson Allen will miss tonight’s Hornets-Grizzlies game with left ankle soreness. Memphis Coach Taylor Jenkins said he anticipates Allen being back the end of this week or early next week.

The @Charlotte Hornets recalled @Caleb Martin from @greensboroswarm after Swarm played this morning. Logical move with Batum and probably Bacon out tonight.

I would be quite surprised if Dwayne Bacon plays tonight if he’s listed as doubtful. The NBA frowns on anyone being upgraded from OUT to available, so doubtful is a pretty strong indication after he wasn’t listed as injured Tuesday.

That young fella “Ice” Trae special

The @Charlotte Hornets allow the most points in the paint (56 per game) and Grizzlies score the most (54.6). Memphis’s Ja Morant’s dribble-penetration will be a big problem tonight. He leads all rookies in scoring at 17.8 per game. Will James Borrego try @cody_martin15 to guard him?

Remains to be seen whether or not Dre Hunter can be a true wing stopper in the NBA. His defensive fundamentals are so sound that he’s going to sneak up on even some of the better guards in the league and make plays like this. pic.twitter.com/47gVwZvGlj

Hilarious example of just how much defensive attention Trae Young is demanding. 3 Nuggets corral him on this double ball screen play ATL went to over and over again during 2H. pic.twitter.com/nr8lKBykAJ

Trae Toung 🤯 pic.twitter.com/KlAUIL09Ix

Here’s a Jokic sequence. The shooting has been a struggle, but the defensive effort is unacceptably poor so far this season. It hasn’t been the worst of starts, but something feels off in Denver. pic.twitter.com/Quk64ehnWd

It’s 25 outside. Suddenly 90s in September doesn’t feel like a nuisance anymore.