Hornets-Pacers Preview
The return of Michael Kidd-Gilchrist and the play of Kemba Walker and Nicolas Batum have the Charlotte Hornets surging back into the playoff picture.
Now they're hoping to move above .500 for the first time in more than a month, though they'll have to end their lengthy struggles at Indiana to get there.
In both teams' final contest before the All-Star break, Charlotte will try to win its ninth in 13 games Wednesday night and snap a 12-game road skid against the Pacers.
The Hornets (26-26) were 12th in the Eastern Conference, 3 1/2 games out of a playoff spot, on Jan. 16 after dropping nine of 10. However, they've turned things around and moved within a half game of eighth place after Monday's 108-91 home win over Chicago.
Walker finished with 30 points, Kidd-Gilchrist had a season-high 20 and Batum added 19. Charlotte held a 56-41 edge on the glass in its fourth win in five games.
''To be back at .500 a game before the All-Star break, that shows where we are,'' Batum said. "We've had a lot of injuries and stuff like that, but guys kept fighting and never gave up. We've been through a lot, but we're still almost there.''
Batum has averaged 22 points while hitting 10 of 22 from 3-point range to go along with 10 rebounds and 8 assists in the last three of a four-game stretch since returning from a strained toe. Walker has averaged 24.3 points while hitting 12 of 27 from beyond the arc in three games since missing one with left knee soreness.
Kidd-Gilchrist, averaging 13.5 points and 7 rebounds, has provided a surprising lift in six games since returning from what was thought to be season-ending shoulder surgery.
"Kemba has been under the radar, but he's playing at a high level," Pacers star Paul George said. "Having Kidd-Gilchrist back is a huge boost for them. This team can play."
Charlotte looks to move above .500 for the first time since Jan. 2, but that isn't likely to come easy at Indiana. The club has lost 12 in a row there - tied for the longest active road losing streak versus any opponent - and is 10-39 all-time in Indianapolis.
The Hornets have averaged 87.4 points during that slide after shooting 35 percent in a 93-74 loss April 3 in the most recent meeting.
Walker finished with six points on 1-of-9 shooting in that contest and has averaged just 12.2 points while shooting 30.8 percent over his last six in this series.
After allowing an average of 104.4 points on 47.9 percent shooting in their previous five games, the Pacers (28-24) held the Los Angeles Lakers to 31.2 percent in Monday's 89-87 home win for their fifth win in seven games.
George totaled 61 points and hit 9 of 14 from 3-point range in a two-game stretch after shooting 30.5 percent in his previous four. He scored seven in the last two minutes Monday, finishing with 21 despite shooting 2 for 10 from beyond the arc.
Indiana shot a season-worst 4 for 27 from 3-point range but could bounce back facing a Charlotte team that allowed Chicago to make 10 of 25 from 3. The Hornets, though, have given up an average of 94.4 points on 41.8 percent shooting in their last five games.