Charlotte @ Boston preview

Last Meeting ( Dec 27, 2017 ) Boston 102, Charlotte 91

The Boston Celtics have taken advantage of some struggling teams to rediscover the form that made them the top team in the Eastern Conference until recently. They'll now turn their attention to one the East's hotter squads when the Charlotte Hornets pay a visit to Boston on Wednesday.

After dropping their final three games prior to the All-Star break, the Celtics have knocked off Detroit, New York and Memphis - three teams that are a combined 41 games below .500 - to right the ship. "Just our focus level," All-Star guard Kyrie Irving told ESPN.com of the difference between before and after the break. "Getting everybody back. Just knowing what we're trying to get ready for." While Boston sits a half-game out of first place in the East, Charlotte has designs on entering the playoff race with five straight victories. Kemba Walker's 31 points lifted the Hornets to a 118-103 victory over Chicago at home Tuesday night.

TV: 7:30 p.m. ET, FS Southeast (Charlotte), NBCS Boston

ABOUT THE HORNETS (28-33): Dwight Howard finished with 24 points on 10-of-12 shooting to go along with five blocked shots in Tuesday's win. "The second half Dwight just took the game over. He was dominant really at both ends of the floor," coach Steve Clifford told reporters. Walker, who wrestled with a rib injury early in the win, produced 16 points in the third quarter as Charlotte produced at least 111 points for the fourth straight game.

ABOUT THE CELTICS (43-19): Irving scored 25 points on 8-of-13 shooting in the 109-98 win over Memphis on Monday and he is averaging 24.7 points, 6.7 rebounds and 6.3 assists during the winning streak. Fellow All-Star Al Horford has not been as productive, posting a scoring average of seven points while shooting 7-for-26 from the floor since the break. He had 20 points and 12 rebounds in a 102-91 win at Charlotte on Dec. 27 as Boston extended its winning streak in the series to six.

BUZZER BEATERS

1. Hornets SF Michael Kidd-Gilchrist left Tuesday's game with a hamstring strain and is day-to-day.

2. Celtics C Aron Baynes (elbow) returned from a one-game absence to score nine points on 4-of-4 shooting in the win over Memphis.

3. Walker is averaging 25.8 points while making 17-of-32 3-pointers in his last four games.

PREDICTION: Celtics 107, Hornets 101