Nick Smith Jr. took a peek at the shot clock winding down, hesitated to set up a defender off the dribble and unleashed a jumper just inside the 3-point arc.
The result was a mirror image of what transpired during the opening of the California Classic 24 hours earlier, when the Charlotte Hornets’ second-year guard hoisted the game’s initial shot: all net.
“I feel like it’s just me being ready to play, just mentally already being there before I even step on the court,” Smith said after posting eight points, four rebounds and four assists in the Hornets’ 93-62 win against the Chinese national team at Golden 1 Center on Sunday night.