Williams quickly shook off the rust in his first taste of NBA action, scoring four points and hauling in three rebounds in the opening two quarters. It will take some time for Williams to become fully comfortable with the speed and physicality of the NBA game after his hiatus,

With Williams back into the fold, the Hornets are getting closer to having a full deck of cards again. When healthy, Williams once helped the Hornets rank in the top five for defensive efficiency. His ability to switch one through five could potentially change the outlook of how this team protects the paint or their pick-and-roll coverages.

This was about Mark Williams, the Charlotte Hornets’ center who’s become a forgotten man in a sense because of his injury history over the last 12 months. So, his return from a strained tendon in his left foot represented a significant milestone, and a mental pick-me-up for a team besieged with more than its share of player ailments.