The NBA season is a grind, but for a few teams, the grind is finally paying off. Look, the Knicks and Hornets clash tonight, and it’s more than just another game on the schedule. It’s a preview of what could be a legitimate playoff slugfest. New York rolled into Charlotte on a nine-game winning streak, their longest since the 2012-13 season. Julius Randle, fresh off his second All-Star nod, has been a monster, averaging 25.4 points and 10.3 rebounds over the last month. The Knicks are 33-27, firmly planted in the East’s top six.
But don’t sleep on the Hornets. They’ve quietly strung together five straight wins, including a surprising road victory over the Wizards where Terry Rozier dropped 33 points. Charlotte is 29-31, just two games back of the Hawks for the final play-in spot. Remember how everyone wrote them off after LaMelo Ball’s injury? Turns out, Steve Clifford’s crew has some fight. They’re 7-3 in their last 10 games, with wins over the Celtics and Heat mixed in. That's not a fluke.
Here’s the thing: the Eastern Conference play-in race is tighter than a drum. As of Wednesday night, the Heat hold the 7th seed at 32-29, followed by the Hawks at 30-30. Then it’s the Raptors at 29-31, tied with Charlotte. The Bulls are lurking at 27-33. The Hornets have a real shot, especially with their schedule softening slightly after this Knicks matchup. They still have two games against the Pistons and one against the Rockets coming up. Those are must-wins.
Miles Bridges’ return has been huge. Since he came back on February 15th, the Hornets are 7-2, and Bridges is averaging 21.6 points and 7.1 rebounds. He’s added a level of athleticism and scoring punch they desperately needed. Even without Ball, this team is finding ways to score, putting up 118.8 points per game during their current win streak. That’s top-five in the league over that stretch. Real talk: I think this Hornets team is more dangerous now than they were with Ball trying to do too much. They're playing more cohesively.
While some fans might be looking at the draft lottery standings, hoping for a higher pick, the players and coaching staff clearly aren't. Charlotte currently sits with the 8th-worst record in the league, which would give them a 26.3% chance at a top-4 pick. But momentum matters. Making the play-in, even if they don't win a series, changes the narrative around this franchise. It shows progress.
The Pistons, for example, are a dismal 9-50, virtually locking them into a top-three pick. San Antonio (11-48) and Washington (9-49) aren't much better. The Hornets, however, have decided to push. They signed Grant Williams to a four-year, $54 million deal last offseason, indicating they want to win now. Terry Rozier is under contract through 2026. This isn’t a rebuild anymore; it’s a retool. They’re trying to build a winning culture, something that’s been missing in Charlotte for a long time. They've made the playoffs just twice since 2002.
My bold prediction? The Charlotte Hornets will finish as the 9th seed in the Eastern Conference and earn a spot in the play-in tournament.