Washington @ Charlotte preview

Last Meeting ( Nov 22, 2017 ) Washington 124, Charlotte 129

The Charlotte Hornets occasionally show signs that they can compete in the Eastern Conference, they just have trouble doing it on a consistent basis. The Hornets will try to follow up one impressive win with another when they host the Washington Wizards on Wednesday.

Charlotte dropped two of three at home to fall nine games under .500 before going into Detroit on Monday and scoring 68 points in the second half to grab a 118-107 victory. "We played well today," Hornets forward Marvin Williams told reporters. "Just take a lot of things that we did well today and try to do those same things Wednesday. Obviously, try to clean up some of those things that we didn't do well. Washington's a little bit different from these guys, but we really have to be locked in." The Wizards are hitting the road for a five-game trip after suffering through a disappointing 2-3 homestand that included two losses to possible playoff foes the Milwaukee Bucks. Washington struggled in wins over sub-.500 Orlando and Brooklyn before closing the homestand by shooting 42.1 percent from the floor in a 104-95 loss to Milwaukee on Monday.

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

ABOUT THE WIZARDS (25-19): Washington point guard John Wall poured in 27 points in Monday's loss but was just 7-of-22 from the floor and is 16-of-46 over the last two games. The All-Star is joined in his shooting struggles by backcourt mate Bradley Beal, who went 1-of-7 from 3-point range on Monday and is shooting 22.6 percent from beyond the arc in the last five contests. The Wizards could use a more consistent performance from center Marcin Gortat, who followed up back-to-back double-doubles with four points and seven rebounds on Monday.

ABOUT THE HORNETS (17-25): Charlotte will get a familiar voice back on the bench Wednesday, with head coach Steve Clifford expected back after over a month away from the team while dealing with health issues. Clifford will take over at practice on Tuesday after associate head coach Stephen Silas guided the Hornets to an 8-12 mark, though he did earn wins at Golden State, Oklahoma City and Detroit. "I just told them on how much I appreciate them and how they made it easy for them to coach them because they had a decision to make," Silas told reporters after Monday's win. "They could have either treated me as the substitute coach or someone who could really help them, and they did the latter. I'm so appreciative to them and everybody on the coaching staff, management, ownership, it's been awesome."

BUZZER BEATERS

1. Williams is 13-of-17 from the floor, including 8-of-11 from 3-point range, for the Hornets in the last two games.

2. Wizards SF Kelly Oubre Jr. is averaging 14.4 points on 55.3 percent shooting off the bench over the last five games.

3. Charlotte earned a 129-124 overtime win over Washington at home on Nov. 22 behind 26 points and 13 rebounds from Dwight Howard.

PREDICTION: Wizards 113, Hornets 108