Hornets hope to halt seven-game losing streak against Nets

Losers of seven straight games and showcasing an inability to string together even a couple of good possessions, the Charlotte Hornets have been gifted a game against the Brooklyn Nets in North Carolina tonight.

The opportunity here is the gift. Turning that opportunity into a win will require some effort on the Hornets’ part, meaning that there’s a decent chance they mail this game in and end up with their eighth straight loss.

But I’m optimistic.

The Nets are terrible. They’re at the very bottom of the Eastern Conference with a roster consisting of names seldom heard outside of the team’s arena. Brook Lopez has put forth a valiant effort with averages of 20.3 points, 5.2 rebounds, 1.6 blocks, and 1.8 made 3-pointers per game, but without any real help his team has struggled mightily.

It doesn’t help that former Hornet Jeremy Lin has only appeared in 12 of the Nets’ 51 games. It’s really no surprise the Nets are 9-42.

The Hornets have won their last three games against Brooklyn in Charlotte, but lost to the Nets just after New Year in New York.

The Hornets are on a slippery slope right now — they’re half a game out of the playoff race, and the Milwaukee Bucks and Miami Heat are racing up the standings — and we’ll soon know whether or not they’ll make the playoffs.

Miles Plumlee is due for at least 20 minutes as Cody Zeller is listed as questionable for tonight’s game. Zeller hasn’t played since Jan. 23 against the Washington Wizards and the Hornets have lost every game since then.

We’ll see if the Hornets can put together four solid quarters.

Tip-off is at 7 p.m.