Hawks at Hornets
The Charlotte Hornets host the Atlanta Hawks on Friday looking to shake off a lackluster homestand in which they have split four games, all in advance of hitting the road for seven of their next eight games. The Hornets fell 101-96 to New Orleans on Wednesday to fall five games out of the final Eastern Conference playoff spot, and with a 6-13 record away from home there is urgency for Charlotte to play better before the stretch of road play begins.
“We came out a little bit flat, and they stuck running and just made more plays down the stretch,” Charlotte forward Frank Kaminsky told reporters after Wednesday’s defeat dropped the Hornets to 13-14 at home. Atlanta wrapped up a six-game homestand at 3-3 following Wednesday’s 108-93 defeat to Toronto. The Hawks opened Thursday tied with Orlando and Sacramento for the worst record in the NBA, but four of their 14 victories have come in the past seven games. “I think you have to give them credit for why we have not played well,” Atlanta coach Mike Budenholzer told the media after his team dropped to 0-3 against the Raptors this season.
TV: 7 p.m. ET, FSN Southeast (Atlanta, Charlotte)
ABOUT THE HAWKS (14-33): Rookie forward John Collins, named to the Rising Stars game earlier Wednesday, finished with 13 points, 16 rebounds and four blocks against Toronto. Point guard Dennis Schroder scored 20 points for the second consecutive game and for the 24th time this season, and ranks 12th in the NBA in assists (6.5 per game). Forward Luke Babbitt is 6-of-9 from 3-point range in his past three games and leads the league in 3-point percentage (45.2 percent).
ABOUT THE HORNETS (19-27): Center Dwight Howard celebrated his 1,000th career game Wednesday with 22 points and 16 rebounds, and is averaging 17.8 points and 15.8 rebounds in his past five games. Point guard Kemba Walker, the subject of recent trade rumors, leads the Hornets in scoring (21.7 points per game) but is shooting 14-of-41 from the field in his past two games. Forward Marvin Williams ranks fifth in the league in 3-point shooting at 44.4 percent.
BUZZER BEATERS
1. The Hawks are eighth in the NBA in 3-point shooting (36.9 percent), but have made just 29.6 of their attempts in the past four games.
2. Walker in second in Hornets history in points scored with 9,093, trailing only Dell Curry (9,839).
3. The Hornets beat Atlanta in their first matchup of the season, 109-91 in Charlotte on Oct. 20, as Walker scored 26 points and Kaminsky added 21 points.