Trail Blazers at Hornets
The Charlotte Hornets got off to a superb start this season but a prolonged slump caused them to dip below .500. Charlotte will look to get back to the break-even mark and halt a five-game losing streak when it hosts the Portland Trail Blazers on Wednesday.
Charlotte won eight of its first 11 games to start the season and is just 12-18 since to fall below .500 at the midway point of its schedule. The Hornets are opening a five-game homestand after losing all five games of a road trip and the defense had been shaky by allowing an average of 112.4 points over the past eight games. Portland is a disappointing seven games below .500 and was routed 120-101 by the Washington Wizards on Monday. The Trail Blazers allowed 117.5 points in back-to-back losses to the Orlando Magic and Wizards after holding the Cleveland Cavaliers to 86 points in a stellar victory.
TV: 7 p.m. ET, CSN Northwest (Portland), FSN Southeast (Charlotte)
ABOUT THE TRAIL BLAZERS (18-25): Portland performed poorly over the past six weeks by going 6-15 and point guard Damian Lillard is trying to caution against panic. "We've still got a whole half of the season to play and we've just got to keep with it, stay together and keep working towards things turning around for us," Lillard said after Monday's loss. "That's all we can do." Shooting guard C.J. McCollum tallied just 12 points against the Wizards after scoring 25 or more in eight consecutive games and averaging 30.9 during the stretch.
ABOUT THE HORNETS (20-21): Charlotte completed its road excursion with Monday's 108-98 loss to the Boston Celtics and coach Steve Clifford hardly recognizes his team. "We have to get ourselves right. We have to get back to what we've been for four years," Clifford said afterward. "Defense first, compete on every play, play smart. When we do that, we'll give ourselves a chance to win. We have a good enough team to play a lot better." Standout point guard Kemba Walker scored 24 points against the Celtics and tallied 20 or more in 10 of the past 13 games.
BUZZER BEATERS
1. The Trail Blazers won 10 of the past 13 meetings.
2. Charlotte SF Marvin Williams scored a season-best 21 points in Monday's loss.
3. Portland swingman Allen Crabbe is averaging six points on 5-of-16 shooting in the past two games.