Hornets look to continue streak against a focused Celtics squad

What: Charlotte Hornets (28-33) vs. Boston Celtics (43-19)

Where: TD Garden; Boston, Massachusetts

When: 7:30 p.m. EST

How to watch: Fox Sports Southeast, NBA League Pass

Well, well, well, the Charlotte Hornets are riding a five game winning streak. Who would have thought we would see the day ladies and gents. The Hornets have been engulfed in FLAMES since the All-Star break concluded; however, the streak finds itself in jeopardy tonight as they travel to Boston to take on one of the eastern conferences best squads in the Celtics.

This will be without a doubt be the game that shows us if we have a real shot at taking this lost season into the playoffs. The Hornets currently sit in the 10th slot in the East but are gaining quick ground on the bottom half of the eastern conference.

Just four games from 8th place Miami, if Charlotte can keep the spark alive tonight they can very well find themselves in the playoff hunt.

Do we actually want that to happen? Who knows, but I'm here for any kind of excitement.

On to tonights game. The Celtics are riding a three game win streak in just four days. They’ve also found the fresh air that the All-Star break is supposed to supply, and they currently sit just half a game back from the Toronto Raptors in the Eastern Conference.

As stated, Charlotte has also caught a breath of that fresh air, with wins against an Eastern Conference playoff team in the Washington Wizards, and a tough Pistons squad who sits one spot ahead of them in the standings.

Kemba Walker has been astounding during the win streak, averaging 24.6 points and shooting 21 of 40 from three point range while also going six straight games over 50 percent from behind the arc.

Dwight Howard is also doing what he does best, contributing a very solid 17.8 points and 12.2 rebounds during the past five games. Charlotte’s bench players are also starting to catch strides. Jeremy Lamb has notably been solid all season, now Frank Kaminsky in the past three games is starting to catch his footing, having a 23 point outing against the Wizards, and Cody Zeller continues to be a well needed spark plug.

The Hornets bench will need to show up tonight against the Celtics. Boston has an solid bench, but I feel as if the Hornets should be able to best them in this department if they continue to perform well. Still, the Celtics find a way to get points off the bench, which is largely thanks to Brad Stevens coaching I'm sure.

Boston has won the last six matches against the Hornets and are 2-0 against them this season. Charlotte should be determined to end that streak as they continue their own.

Game tips off at 7:30 p.m.