Can the Charlotte Hornets make it two wins in a row following the All-Star break with a victory against the Brooklyn Nets tonight?
There’s a largely held notion that the post-All-Star stretch of games just feels different than the games before the break. The Charlotte Hornets (28-30) still have those dreams floating around in their heads, but in order to see those dreams realized, they’ll have to overcome a pretty tough schedule.
Maybe it’s because of the playoffs looming off in the distance or the renewed vigor after celebrating the NBA’s finest, but it certainly does feel more exciting. It’s also the stretch of games that can make or break a team’s playoff dreams.
That schedule includes another game against the Brooklyn Nets (30-30). These teams have matched up twice so far this season, with each team winning their respective home games.
Charlotte nearly came out of Brooklyn with a win, however, as the game went into double overtime, only to see Charlotte lose by two points.
Charlotte’s last game was a 123-110 win over the Washington Wizards. They are 7th in the Eastern Conference. Brooklyn’s last outing was a 99-113 loss to the Portland Trail Blazers. They are directly in front of the Hornets in the 6th spot in the East. This is the third of four match-ups against the Nets.
Charlotte Hornets vs Brooklyn Nets
7:00 p.m. EST, Saturday, February 23rd, 2019
Spectrum Center
Fox Sports Southeast
Injury Report:
CHA:
None
BKN:
Spencer Dinwiddie – Thumb (Out)
Things to watch for:
That is one glaring injury for the Nets.
Dinwiddie is the team’s second-leading scorer and scored 37 points against the Hornets in that aforementioned overtime loss. It might end up not being such a detriment, however, as the Nets have seven players averaging double-digit scoring, so I’m sure they can find someone to step up in his absence.
Kemba Walker is averaging 32 points per game against Brooklyn this season. The New York native undoubtedly relishes playing against the Nets.
Keys to the game:
While the Nets aren’t an outstanding three-point shooting team, they are capable of getting hot from behind the arc.
Newly crowned three-point shootout champion, Joe Harris, certainly helps their percentage stay in the top ten in the league, but they have others who can shoot from deep.
As bad as Charlotte’s perimeter defense can be at times, they’d be best suited by staying out on the perimeter and avoiding leaving open shooters.
It’s officially “go-time” for the Hornets as the playoff race heats up. They’ll have to play at their best over the next month and a half if they wish to make an appearance in the postseason. That includes beating teams they know they can. We’ll see if they can do just that Saturday night in the Queen City.