Raptors at Hornets
The Charlotte Hornets are on the verge of being mathematically eliminated from postseason contention after a disappointing road trip and need to win out and get a lot of help over the last four games. The Hornets will try to do their part in that scenario by earning a win when they host the Toronto Raptors on Friday.
Charlotte allowed an average of 125.7 points in losses at the Los Angeles Lakers, Golden State and Utah to begin its trip before scratching out a 115-109 victory at New Orleans to close out the excursion on Wednesday. "Every game is important now," Hornets coach James Borrego told reporters. "We put ourselves to still be in striking distance one game at a time. This was a good start and good response from our poor effort the last three games. More attention to detail, more focus tonight. Give our guys a lot of credit. They defended tonight. They gave us a chance on that end of the floor." The Atlantic Division champion Raptors still have an outside shot at the No. 1 spot in the Eastern Conference going into play on Thursday but are more concerned with going into the postseason healthy and thriving. Toronto pushed its latest winning streak to five in a row with a 115-105 triumph at Brooklyn on Wednesday while showing off the depth of the frontcourt.
TV: 7 p.m. ET, Sportsnet One (Toronto), FS Southeast (Charlotte)
ABOUT THE RAPTORS (56-23): Toronto boasts plenty of depth in the backcourt with All-Star point guard Kyle Lowry surrounded by Danny Green, Fred VanVleet and Jeremy Lin, but the frontcourt did the bulk of the scoring on Wednesday. Power forward Pascal Siakam led the way with 28 points and 10 rebounds in the win while All-Star forward Kawhi Leonard added 26 points and center Serge Ibaka came off the bench to chip in 23 points and 12 boards. Ibaka is forming a potent combination in the middle with veteran Marc Gasol, who filled up the boxscore with eight points, nine rebounds, six assists and four steals at Brooklyn.
ABOUT THE HORNETS (36-42): Charlotte's chances the rest of the way sit on the shoulders of All-Star guard Kemba Walker, who scored 21 of his 32 points in the fourth quarter on Wednesday to spark his team down the stretch. "I think it just comes naturally," Walker told reporters of taking over in the fourth quarter. "Just try to do what I can do to help my team win, which is being even more aggressive. In those kinds of situations, I think my teammates look for me to be more aggressive and make some plays." Walker was limited to nine points in the 137-90 loss at Golden State on Sunday but totaled 70 points on 24-of-45 shooting over the next two contests.
BUZZER BEATERS
1. Hornets PF Frank Kaminsky scored 21 points off the bench on Wednesday after going scoreless on 0-of-3 shooting in the previous contest.
2. Raptors F OG Anunoby (concussion) missed the last four games and is day-to-day.
3. Charlotte snapped a five-game losing streak in the series with a 115-114 win at Toronto on March 24.