Hornets 124, Wizards 117
Q. What did you see out of your team's defensive boards tonight that enabled the other team to be so effective?
KYLE KUZMA: They just wanted it more than us tonight. They played much harder than us. I mean, that's reflected in rebounds, effort. Sometimes it's about the bounce, but Mark Williams did a phenomenal job all night being on the boards and kicking our butts.
Q. Every Wizard was in double figures tonight except for two and Gallo had nine. How tough is it when you spread that wealth and come out with a loss?
KYLE KUZMA: It's tough. Obviously you want to share the ball. You want everybody to be happy and score, and usually when you have that many guys in double figures, it's usually a good night. Tonight just wasn't our night.
Q. What was the difference from LaMelo in the first half and the second half?
KYLE KUZMA: I don't know. I think he just found his rhythm. We were giving him the same look, and it was pretty effective, and then -- he's a great player. He's a high-IQ player and just kind of figured it out, figured his rhythm out.
Q. This might be an extreme example in terms of rebounding because Charlotte -- I know it's something that Wes has talked about, but rebounding in general this season, what can you guys do to be better in that area?
KYLE KUZMA: We've just got to go get the ball, plain and simple.
Q. Last six minutes what do you think was going on in terms of ball movement, shot selection, that kind of got you guys bogged down?
KYLE KUZMA: That's on me. I've got to be better. I've got to be better mentally and physically prepared to get back in the game after a long stretch out and close it. That's on me. That's on me.
Q. What's the level of frustration or disappointment after leading for a good chunk of the game?
KYLE KUZMA: I mean, it's incredibly disappointing, honestly. I think this was a game that we needed. I thought it was a must-win game. We'd be probably feeling good about ourselves sitting at 3-5 going into a back to back. It's just a bitter taste, but we all have to be better.
Q. What's the sense of (indiscernible) is anybody down?
KYLE KUZMA: I mean, it sucks to lose, especially we just beat them by 20, and we didn't play the same way that we did there on all fronts. It just sucks.
Q. You called it a must-win game. How much of that has to do with the in-season tournament?
KYLE KUZMA: Nothing really, honestly. We're 2-5. Got to win.
Q. The stakes of the tournament, though, does that change the feel of the game? Do you feel that a little bit?
KYLE KUZMA: No, uh-uh.
FastScripts Transcript by ASAP Sports