Charlotte Hornets look to end losing streak against the Brooklyn Nets
Having lost three straight, the Charlotte Hornets are in quite the funk. Can they turn it around with a win over the Brooklyn Nets?
The Charlotte Hornets (28-33) are in a free-fall right now, losing their last three games and losing 7 of their last 10. Fans knew this would be a tough schedule after the All-Star break, but many were hoping they’d be more competitive.
They have, for the most part, keeping up with powerhouse teams like the Golden State Warriors and Houston Rockets, but they flubbed a close one to the Brooklyn Nets (32-31) just under a week ago in a game they should have won.
They’ll get their chance at revenge for that one Friday in Brooklyn as they take on the Nets for the final time this season. The memory of how their last game against Brooklyn should still be fresh in their heads and with the final playoff spot on the line, the team will surely look to play at their best. They’ll need to if they want to avoid losing the season series against the Nets for the first time since the 2014-2015 season.
Charlotte’s last game was a 113-118 loss to the aforementioned Houston Rockets. They are tied for the 8th spot in the Eastern Conference. Brooklyn’s last outing was a 116-125 loss to the Washington Wizards. They are 6th in the East. As mentioned before, this is the final game against the Nets this season.
Charlotte Hornets at Brooklyn Nets
7:30 p.m. EST, Friday, March 1st, 2019
Barclays Center
Fox Sports Southeast
Injury Report:
CHA:
None
BKN:
None
Things to watch for:
Charlotte is 1-2 against the Nets this season, with those two losses both being decided by two points. It would seem these two teams are evenly matched, for the most part, though with Charlotte having the 4th worst road record in the Eastern Conference, that could be a moot point.
Keys to the game:
For one, don’t let D’Angelo Russell go off for 40 as he did a week ago. It would also help to limit fouls, as Brooklyn is 9th in the NBA in personal fouls drawn, and they’re 6th in terms of free-throw attempts.
Charlotte is usually pretty disciplined, however, as they rank 3rd in the league in fouls committed. The Nets did shoot 26 free-throws in their last outing against the Hornets, so it looks like they won out in that statistic.
Something else to note is Brooklyn’s penchant for turning the ball over, coughing up the ball at the 6th highest rate in the NBA. The Hornets would do well to pressure ball-handlers and break up passing lanes.
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The Hornets need some wins, and they need them now. That last loss to the Nets stung for the fans. Here’s to hoping they can get back on track Friday night in Brooklyn.