Game Preview: Hornets at Knicks (In-Season Tournament)

The Hornets hang on for any contention in the In-Season Tournament.

INJURY REPORT:

Hornets: Out: Nick Richards (Concussion), Cody Martin (Knee), Frank Ntilikina (Tibia) DOUBTFUL: LaMelo Ball (Ankle) PROBABLE: James Bouknight (Knee)

New York Knicks: Out: Charlie Brown Jr., Jacob Toppin, Duane Washington Jr., Dylan Windler

GAME PREVIEW:

What a difference a game makes. Before LaMelo Ball took a fall in the first half of Charlotte's loss to Orlando on Sunday, the star point guard's health probably wasn't front of mind for many Hornets fans — though, at this point, the thought's never that far away. Now, Melo's renewed right ankle situation has him doubtful against the Knicks at Madison Square Garden. It goes without saying, but another curtailed Melo season due to ankle injury would be agony for Charlotte.

Alas, the Hornets find themselves in the last game of group play for the inaugural NBA In-Season Tournament, indeed against the Knicks, who they last met in a regular season loss at home on Nov. 18. As the tournament stands now, Charlotte has won one of their games and lost two. There's currently no way they can finish in first place, and they're operating at a minus-30 point differential, the worst of any NBA team still in the running, according to CBS Sports.

The game will air at 7:30 PM EST on Bally Sports Southeast.

KEY MATCHUP: Miles Bridges vs Julius Randle

Bridges has shown almost no rust since he returned to the Hornets, starting with their In-Season Tournament game against the Bucks Nov. 17. He had already sat out 10 games to start the season, after missing the entire previous year — a court date still hangs in the balance. Back on the hardwood, Bridges continues to match up against other powerful forwards in the NBA. How will he do against Julius Randle, who logged 28 points when the Knicks played Phoenix on Sunday?

Position	Hornets	Knicks
PG	Terry Rozier	Jalen Brunson
SG	Brandon Miller	Quentin Grimes
SF	Gordon Hayward	RJ Barrett
PF	Miles Bridges	Julius Randle
C	Mark Williams	Mitchell Robinson

You can follow us for future coverage by liking us on social media:

Facebook - All Hornets

X - @All_Hornets and Philip Trapp