Hornets at Pelicans
An ill-timed losing streak has put the Charlotte Hornets in a virtual must-win situation entering Wednesday night's visit to the New Orleans Pelicans. The Hornets lost the first three legs of their four-game road trip to sink three games out of a playoff spot in the Eastern Conference with five to play.
"There's still a chance, and as long as there is still a chance (we have to) keep fighting," Charlotte guard Jeremy Lamb told reporters after the team fell 111-102 at Utah on Monday, despite 47 points from Kemba Walker. After they leave New Orleans, the Hornets host Toronto and then go back on the road for two more before the regular-season finale at home against fellow playoff hopeful Orlando. The Pelicans have long been out of the race in the West and are fading fast with 10 losses in their last 12 games. They've allowed at least 130 points four times in that stretch, including Sunday's 130-102 defeat against the Los Angeles Lakers at home.
TV: 8 p.m. ET, FS Southeast (Charlotte), FS New Orleans
ABOUT THE HORNETS (35-42): Walker tried to will his team to a big road win at Utah, scoring 22 points in the fourth quarter alone. "I did get into a good rhythm," he told reporters. "I was trying to get downhill, trying to get to the free-throw line. Made a few 3s. It was a little too late." The rest of Charlotte's starting lineup had six total points as forwards Marvin Williams and Miles Bridges combined for 50 scoreless minutes on 0-of-9 shooting.
ABOUT THE PELICANS (32-46): Superstar forward Anthony Davis (back) missed his third straight game in the loss to the Lakers and Julius Randle had to leave the game with a finger injury after scoring 17 points in 23 minutes. Randle also had five of the team's 24 turnovers, which led to 32 points for Los Angeles, many coming in a 44-point third quarter. "You're not going to win any basketball games where you're in the thirties as far as points off turnovers," coach Alvin Gentry told reporters. "A lot of their points in the third quarter came off of turnovers. We had 12 turnovers at the half against a team that doesn't really force a lot of turnovers. We just didn't play very well."
BUZZER BEATERS
1. New Orleans PF Christian Wood, acquired last month after Milwaukee put him on waivers, is averaging 21 points, 9.7 rebounds, 2.7 blocks and 2.3 steals over his last three games.
2. Hornets C Cody Zeller (knee) has missed 11 games in a row but the team has yet to rule him out for the rest of the season.
3. The Pelicans have won five straight meetings.