JT Thor
March has been marvelous for JT Thor and Tuesday night’s performance against Cleveland may have been the best game of his NBA career.
The 20-year-old second-year forward for the Charlotte Hornets came off the bench to log 11 points and six rebounds in a 120-104 loss in North Carolina. He played 15 minutes, made 4-of-7 field goals, got to the free-throw line for the first time in a month and blocked a shot. He had an even plus/minus rating on a night when his team lost by 16.
The 6-foot-10 defensive specialist matched his career high of 11 points, originally set Nov. 4 against Memphis. He played 26 minutes in a 130-99 loss. (His +/- was even on that night too).
Defense keeps Thor on the court, and when his offense catches up, he will be on track to get his starting job back.
Thor earned his first of four straight starts earlier this month, and even though he’s back to coming off the bench his production has not dropped off. He’s putting up 3.8 points and 3.3 rebounds in March and has averaged 15.5 minutes since the All-Star break, fueling the most productive stretch in his NBA career.
FAB FIVE
Most NBA Games by Alaskan
861 Carlos Boozer
646 Mario Chalmers
119 Trajan Langdon
*91 JT Thor
*71 Daishen Nix
*Active
Tuesday marked the third time Thor has reached double figures in 58 games this season to increase his season average to 2.7 points per game, up from his 2.0 average in 33 games as a rookie.
Thor, who is out of Auburn University by way of West High, has made 20 of his 27 career 3-pointers and 20 of 32 career free throws this season. He has made a 3-pointer in three straight games and four out of the last five.
He is averaging 1.9 rebounds per game and has recorded six or more four times, highlighted by the eight boards he had March 1 against Phoenix. With 154 career rebounds, Thor needs five more to catch Anchorage’s Trajan Langdon for No. 3 all-time among Alaskans.
📸📸📸📸#LetsFly | @TIAA pic.twitter.com/YcsMt61fAR
— Charlotte Hornets (@hornets) March 15, 2023