After suffering a five-game losing streak, the Charlotte Hornets finally put another notch in the win column. With a five-game road trip looming on the horizon, there is very little room for error. Their first test on that trip will be against Anthony Davis and the New Orleans Pelicans.
15 games remain for your Charlotte Hornets (29-38). That’s 15 games in which they have to try and perform a near miracle and eke their way into the postseason. Sitting 6.5 games back of the final spot, however, does not bode well at all. But, anything can happen, right?
ESPN currently has the Hornets with a 0.8% chance of making the playoffs. Yes, I’m saying there’s a chance, albeit a highly infinitesimal one. I think for Charlotte to make the playoffs, they have to win at least 42 games. Meaning they would need to go 13-2 for the rest of the season. Maybe it’s just me, but I always try to have a glimmer of hope.
They’ll need more than that when they head to the Big Easy to take on the New Orleans Pelicans (38-28). The two teams have played each other once thus far, back on January 24th, with the Pelicans winning in Charlotte, 101-96. Dwight Howard led the Hornets with 22 points and 16 rebounds. The Hornets are coming off a 122-115 win over the Phoenix Suns. They are 10th in the East. The Pelicans have lost their last two, with their latest defeat coming at the hands of the Utah Jazz, 99-116. They are 4th in the West.
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Charlotte Hornets at New Orleans Pelicans
8:00 p.m. EST, Tuesday, March 13th, 2018
Smoothie King Center
Fox Sports Southeast
Injury Report:
CHA:
Marvin Williams – Eye (Game-Time Decision)
Cody Zeller – Knee (Game-Time Decision)
Michael Carter Williams – Shoulder (Out)
NO:
Solomon Hill – Hamstring (Game-Time Decision)
Frank Jackson – Foot (Out)
DeMarcus Cousins – Achilles (Out)
Alexis Ajinca – Knee (Out)
Things to keep an eye on:
The last time these two teams played, the Pelicans had DeMarcus Cousins. They do not have him now, of course, after tearing his Achilles tendon back in late January. They do have, however, Emeka Okafor. Yes, the very same Emeka Okafor the Bobcats selected as their first ever draft pick. The 35-year-old is actually putting up decent numbers for someone who hasn’t been in the NBA since the 2013 season. He’s averaging 5.6 points and 5.3 rebounds in 16 minutes per game. He has also started 10 games for the Pelicans. Not too shabby. It’ll be interesting to see how he plays against his former team.
Keys to the game:
New Orleans is second in the NBA in terms of field goal percentage, but that makes sense given their propensity for getting the ball inside. They also move the ball very well, averaging 26.6 points a game, also good enough for second in the league. This game will most likely come down to whether the Hornets can either stop the Pelicans with defensive pressure and breaking up passing lanes, or by simply keeping up with them on the offensive end. They should have an easier time without “Boogie,” but between Davis, Jrue Holliday, and the recently acquired Nikola Mirotic, they can still hurt you. Play smart and physical because the Pelicans are tough.
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Some may feel as though this season is a lost cause for the Hornets, but as the old saying goes, “it ain’t over ’til it’s over.” We’ll see just how much fight the Hornets have left in them Tuesday night in New Orleans.