Preview/Game Details: Hornets try to avoid three consecutive losses to league’s worst team – At The Hive

What: Charlotte Hornets (16-48) (7-25 away) at Detroit Pistons (10-53) (5-26 home)

When: 7:00pm Eastern

Where: Little Caesars Arena; Detroit, MI

How to watch: Bally Sports Southeast, NBA League Pass

Outfitting: Hornets–Association (white), Pistons–Icon (blue)

Game Lines: Hornets +3.5, O/U 217.5

Injuries (brace yourselves):
Hornets: Mark Williams-out (back), LaMelo Ball-out (ankle), Seth Curry-out (ankle), Cody Martin-out (ankle), Bryce McGowens-out (knee), Tre Mann-doubtful (read: out) (groin)

Pistons: Quentin Grimes-probable (knee)

The title of this post has two meanings. A little double entendre, if you will. First, the Pistons are the current worst team in the NBA. They have beaten the Hornets in both of the previous meetings and are looking to make it three consecutive wins over Charlotte. The other meaning–the Hornets lost to the Wizards on Friday. At the start of that game, the Wizards held the worst record in the league. That means the Hornets have lost two straight games to the team that at the time had the worst record in the league. First against the Pistons in late January, then to the Wizards on Friday.

If you keep losing to the worst team, does that make you the actual worst team? The Hornets also have the worst point differential in the league, so maybe? Probably.

What’s left of the Charlotte Hornets is coming off a really good game against the Nets. The Hornets played like a team that knew how to basketball and outplayed the Nets on both ends of the floor. It was reminiscent of that glorious stretch where the Hornets won four out of five games in the middle of February. Assuming they take this game seriously (like they didn’t do on Friday), there’s no reason they can’t look like a competent team again.

The Pistons have the second worst defensive rating in the league, better than only the Wizards (😬). The defense has been better relative to the rest of the league since the trade deadline, but the offense has not been. They have the third worst offense in the league in that stretch, better than only the Grizzlies and Hornets (again, 😬).

Cade Cunningham has fully hit his stride in the absence of other good offensive players. Since the deadline, he’s averaging 23.3 points and 8.0 assists per game while shooting 44.9% from three. Simone Fontecchio is having the best stretch of play of his young career after the Pistons gave up what will be a very high second round pick in the upcoming draft to acquire him. Maybe they didn’t realize he’s 28 years old even though it’s only his second NBA season. Regardless, he’s a good player right now. He hits threes at a high rate and is coming off a career high 27 points against the Mavericks on Saturday.

Isaiah Stewart and Jalen Duren are going to give the Hornets all sorts of problems on the inside and on the offensive glass. The Pistons have gone big by starting both of them together with James Wiseman coming in off the bench. Ausar Thompson also functions like a smaller center with endless energy, athleticism, and inability to make jump shots. Keeping them at bay around the basket is going to be a big part of the Hornets playing up to their defensive potential.