What: Charlotte Hornets (13-37) (4-17 away) at Brooklyn Nets (18-34) (7-17 home)
When: 7:30pm Eastern
Where: Barclays Center; Brooklyn, NY
How to watch: FanDuel Sports Network, NBA League Pass
Outfitting: Hornets–Icon (teal), Nets–City (black/gray)
Game Lines: Hornets +3.5, Hornets money line +135, O/U 211.5
Injuries:
Hornets: Moussa Diabate-questionable (eye), Josh Green-questionable (calf), Nick Smith Jr.-questionable (back), Isaiah Wong-questionable (foot), Mark Williams-out (returning from trade), Josh Okogie-out (hamstring), Brandon Miller-out (wrist), Tre Mann-out (back), Grant Williams-out (knee)
Nets: D’Angelo Russell-questionable (sick), Cam Thomas-out (hamstring), Bojan Bogdanovic-out (foot), Noah Clowney-out (ankle), De’Anthony Melton-out (knee), Maxwell Lewis-out (leg)
Given the health situations of these two teams, I propose that this game is not played by score, but rather by which team can sustain a healthy lineup for the longest. Last team with a healthy five man lineup wins. Should be done within two or three quarters.
The Hornets are potentially down nine players, which is half the roster counting two-way players. I’m sure a couple of those will end up playing, but it’s still not an ideal situation. LaMelo Ball and Miles Bridges are presumably going to play, which at least gives the Hornets a fighting chance. It’s honestly a little strange seeing LaMelo play with so many other players out. Feels like he’s always pulled away by the injury tidal wave.
Conspicuously absent from the injury report is Jusuf Nurkic, who apparently is good to go and not getting sent back for sketchy physical issues. With Diabate potentially out, we’ll probably get a heavy welcoming dose of the Bosnian Bear.
An aside on Diabate, it’s relieving that his injury is being called an abrasion. Hits like that make you worry about orbital fractures and things. An abrasion should be a quick recovery.
On the other side, the Nets have actually been rather hot. They’ve won four of their last five with the one loss coming in blowout fashion to the Wizards. Go figure. They have the best defensive rating in the league over that five game span while playing at a mid-2000s NBA pace. They’ve been led in scoring by Keon Johnson of all people. It’s probably not a sustainable means of success, but it’s working in the here and now.
I’m actually kind of interested to watch the mishmash of Hornets available tonight. Even if they’re bad, it’ll be kind of a different bad.
