Swarm and Sting
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Charlotte Hornets Welcome the Toronto Raptors in a Potential Playoff Preview

By Russ Heltman

Jan 1, 2016; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Toronto Raptors guard DeMar DeRozan (10) drives to the basket as Charlotte Hornets center Cody Zeller (40) and guard Nicolas Batum (5) try to defend during the fourth quarter in a game at Air Canada Centre. The Toronto Raptors won 104-94. Mandatory Credit: Nick Turchiaro-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 1, 2016; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Toronto Raptors guard DeMar DeRozan (10) drives to the basket as Charlotte Hornets center Cody Zeller (40) and guard Nicolas Batum (5) try to defend during the fourth quarter in a game at Air Canada Centre. The Toronto Raptors won 104-94. Mandatory Credit: Nick Turchiaro-USA TODAY Sports /
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The Charlotte Hornets will look to build on some home momentum ahead of their matchup with the Toronto Raptors.

The Charlotte Hornets (21-21) used dominant defense to break out of their latest losing streak, notching a 107-85 thrashing of the Portland Trail Blazers. That defensive prowess will be key to tonight’s matchup with the talented Toronto Raptors (28-14).

Toronto is reeling after a head-scratching 94-89 loss at the hands of Joel Embiid and the Philadelphia 76ers. The Raptors had won 14 straight against Philly, marking the franchises second longest winning streak against one team.

Charlotte is preparing to face an elite backcourt for a second straight outing, and one could easily argue that the Kyle Lowry/DeMar DeRozan combination blows Portland’s backcourt duo out of the water. Both figure to be members of this year’s All-Star Weekend festivities in New Orleans, with Derozan (28.2 points per game) having already been named a starter. Meanwhile, Lowry (22.2 PPG) made the short list of snubbed players and hopes to have his ticket to New Orleans punched by the coaches vote.

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Toronto Raptors @ Charlotte Hornets

7:00 p.m. EST, Friday, January 20th, 2017

Spectrum Center

Broadcast on FOX Sports Southeast

Injury Report:

CHA:

OUT — Jeremy Lamb (Inflamed Metatarsal)

TOR:

OUT — Patrick Patterson (Knee), Lucas Nogueira (Concussion)

WILL PLAY — DeMarre Carroll (Neck)

Biggest Story

Containing Derozan

Demar Derozan is quickly becoming one of the top shooting guards in the NBA and this season has been his coming out party. DeRozan is scoring close to 10 points more per game than his career average this season. Meanwhile his PER (Player Efficiency Rating) this season is the highest its ever been in his career.

Derozan’s 25.39 PER is good for 13th in the league and four spots ahead of his backcourt buddy Kyle Lowry.

The seven-year vet is now the focal point offensively for the Toronto Raptors, and the transition was felt in full force when Charlotte fell to the Raptors 113-11 back on November 11th. DeRozan dropped 34 points on 53 percent shooting that night, just enough to overcome a 40 point effort from Kemba Walker.

Biggest Matchup

Michael Kidd-Gilchrist vs DeMar DeRozan

MKG was in peak form against the Trail Blazers, holding their primary scoring guard C.J. McCollum to 18 points on 7-of-18 shooting. Kidd-Gilchrist proved why he guards the opponent’s best offensive talent most nights, and Derozan represents a true test for his defensive prowess.

Next: Hornets Raising Ticket Prices, Kemba Focuses on Winning

DeRozan has scored less than 20 points just four times this season, so shutting him down completely seems out of the question. Two things need to happen that are easier said than done, keeping his point total in the 20s and denying him the rock down the stretch. Thankfully, MKG will have four more Hornets to help shoulder the load.

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