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What: Charlotte Hornets (15-15) vs. Detroit Pistons (15-14)
When: 7:00 p.m. EST
Where: Spectrum Center; Charlotte, NC
How to watch: Fox Sports Southeast, NBA League Pass
It’s deja vu all over again. Nine days ago, the Pistons came to Charlotte one game over .500 with a half game lead over the Hornets. They enter tonight’s game one game over .500 and a half game ahead of the Hornets in the standings. Last time, the Hornets came away with a win and leapfrogged Detroit for the six seed in the Eastern Conference. Let’s hope tonight is another repeat.
But there are bigger things at stake. Not only will a win once again put Charlotte over .500 and ahead of Detroit in the standings, it will also guarantee the Hornets win the season series between these two teams. If early indications hold true, that could be huge.
The Hornets and Pistons have essentially comprised their own tier within the Eastern Conference. The Raptors, Bucks, Celtics, 76ers, and Pacers will probably be the top five seeds. The Heat, Magic, Nets, and Wizards are fighting for the eight seed in all likelihood, while the Pistons and Hornets seem pretty securely locked in to the six and seven seeds. A win tonight could be the difference between those two spots.
There are plenty of reasons to be optimistic about tonight’s game from a Hornets perspective. The team is 2-0 against this adversary, including a magnificent comeback in this same building just nine days ago. James Borrego has said he’s shortening the rotation in an attempt to bolster the defense. It worked on Wednesday night. We’ll see if the good times keep rolling.