Brooklyn @ Charlotte preview

Last Meeting ( Feb 22, 2018 ) Brooklyn 96, Charlotte 111

The Charlotte Hornets are running out of time to keep themselves in the playoff picture, but they get a prime opportunity to pick up a win when they host the sliding Brooklyn Nets on Thursday. The Hornets followed up a five-game winning streak with four consecutive losses - all to teams ranked in the top six in the East - and are six games out of a playoff spot with 17 to play.

All-Star guard Kemba Walker, who averages 23 points, was held to a season-low five on 1-of-9 shooting in Tuesday's 128-114 loss to the Philadelphia 76ers to open a three-game homestand. "I wish I would've played better," Walker told reporters. "I wish I would've shot better, but I've been shooting the ball great as of late, so it happens." The Nets have fallen into a tie for last place in the Eastern Conference with four straight losses and 12 in the last 13 games. They outscored Golden State by 21 points in the second quarter before getting dominated in the second half in a 114-101 loss on Tuesday.

TV: 7 p.m. ET, YES (Brooklyn), FS Southeast (Charlotte)

ABOUT THE NETS (20-45): The one positive in the late-season tumble is the recent play of guard D'Angelo Russell, who missed two months of the season due to injury. The talented 22-year-old produced 20 points on 8-of-14 shooting and eight assists in the loss to Golden State and is averaging 16.5 points through the first four games of Brooklyn's five-game road trip. "He was really good," coach Kenny Atkinson told reporters of Russell. "He did a good job against their switches, picking out where we could have an advantage. I thought he drove the ball well and obviously made some nice one-on-one plays."

ABOUT THE HORNETS (28-37): Walker missed all five of his 3-point tries in Tuesday's loss after making 28-of-60 over his previous seven contests. "Listen, he's not a machine," coach Steve Clifford told the media. "He's a human being and he's played at such an incredibly high level all year that, you're going to have games now and then where you're not (shooting well). I mean, he's been so consistent, so sooner or later you're not going to get 27 every night. You're just not." Dwight Howard picked up some of the slack against Philadelphia with a season-high 30 points, including his first made 3-pointer since Jan. 23, 2015.

BUZZER BEATERS

1. Howard collected a season-high 24 rebounds in a 111-96 win over Brooklyn at home Feb. 22.

2. Nets SF DeMarre Carroll averages 13.6 points on the season but produced at least 16 in each of his last five games.

3. Charlotte won the last five meetings at home.

PREDICTION: Hornets 113, Nets 102