Hornets at Cavaliers
The Charlotte Hornets enter another virtual must-win affair when they visit the Cleveland Cavaliers on Tuesday. The Hornets have won three in a row, including a clutch 104-91 triumph at Detroit on Sunday, to pull within one game of the Pistons -- with two to play -- in the battle for the final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference.
Kemba Walker scored 31 points for Charlotte, which swept all four meetings with Detroit to gain the coveted tiebreaker. "I'm happy to still be playing for something," Walker, who is averaging 34.8 points over his last four games, told reporters. The Cavaliers enter their final game of the season looking to avoid finishing with fewer than 20 wins for the second time this decade and the fifth time in franchise history. They've lost nine in a row, including Sunday's 112-90 setback against San Antonio to begin the season-ending two-game homestand.
TV: 7 p.m. ET, FS Southeast (Charlotte), FS Ohio (Cleveland)
ABOUT THE HORNETS (38-42): Walker was just 11-of-29 from the floor against Detroit but he handed out seven assists and had only one turnover in 41 minutes. "It all starts with Kemba as always," teammate Frank Kaminski told reporters after scoring 24 points in 28 minutes off the bench. "He can make any play out of the pick and roll." Jeremy Lamb joined Kaminsky in a solid showing for the reserves by producing 17 points and six rebounds.
ABOUT THE CAVALIERS (19-62): Cleveland allowed at least 110 points in each of the nine straight losses and had its worst offensive showing during the stretch in Sunday's defeat. Rookie Collin Sexton and fellow guard Brandon Knight scored 16 points apiece while forward Larry Nance Jr. had 11 points, 10 rebounds and four of the team's season-high 14 steals. The team paid tribute most of the night to forward Channing Frye, who is set to retire after 13 seasons, one of which led to a title with Cleveland in 2016.
BUZZER BEATERS
1. Hornets SF Marvin Williams (foot) missed three straight games and is day-to-day.
2. Lamb averages 15.3 points in 22 games as a reserve after posting 15.0 in 55 as a starter.
3. Cleveland has won eight straight meetings at home, including a 113-89 rout in the first encounter this season at Quicken Loans Arena.