:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/53669391/usa_today_9934574.0.jpg)
What: Charlotte Hornets vs. Chicago Bulls
When: March 13, 2017 at 7:00 p.m. EST
Where: Spectrum Center, Charlotte, NC
TV: Fox Sports Southeast
Radio: WFNZ 610 AM
That really ugly stretch of the Charlotte Hornets season that lasted a full month – from January 23 until February 23 – is behind the team. However, thanks to the unlikely great play from both the Milwaukee Bucks and Miami Heat, the playoffs are still just a little out of reach.
Fortunately, it’s another home game for Charlotte, and they’re playing a team that’s in a stretch that is at least equally bad as that funk the Hornets went through.
Charlotte has evened things out, playing .500 ball over their past 10 games. They also still have a good home record on the year at 18-14. They’ll need the home floor and their consistent, though not great basketball to continue on Monday night.
Marvin Williams has been on a tear over the past few games, knocking down shots and posterizing fools. Yes, Williams slam dunked on an opposing player and it was beautiful. He’s going to have a great matchup against Bobby Portis who has been handed the starting duties in Chicago since the Taj Gibson trade at the trade deadline in February.
The Hornets are 1-1 against the Bulls this season, but they’re catching them at the right time. Chicago is currently in a season-worst five game slump. They were destroyed by the Houston Rockets in the United Center on Friday night, trailing by as much as 31. On Sunday, they visited the Boston Celtics and scored a NBA-low 26 points in the first half en route to another huge defeat.
Charlotte will catch them on the second game of a back-to-back, both on the road, and a clearly fatigued Jimmy Butler hasn’t been able to produce. In 31 minutes against Boston on Sunday, Butler shot just 2-for-11 for five points. If Purple Shirt Guy’s mortal enemy does play, Dwyane Wade that is, it’s hard to say if he will be impactful after playing Friday and Sunday. But we do know how he likes to play against the Hornets.
Overall, everything is breaking Charlotte’s way in this game. They’re the home side, rested, and playing more consistent basketball recently, thanks in large part to the tremendous effort of Marvin, finally looking like the player he was last season when he earned a big contract from Rich Cho. If they can’t get the win on Monday, it might be the beginning of the end. After the Bulls, there are only 15 more games on the schedule. Time to right the hive, gentlemen.