HORNETS, NETS MEET IN BROOKLYN WITH PLAYOFF STAKES AT OPPOSITE ENDS

BROOKLYN, N.Y. (Interstat) — The Charlotte Hornets, fighting to solidify their playoff position, visit the struggling Brooklyn Nets on Tuesday night at Barclays Center in a matchup of teams on vastly different trajectories.

Charlotte (39-36) enters the final stretch of the regular season having won eight of its last 12 games, despite dropping its last two. The Hornets are coming off a 114-99 home loss to Boston on Sunday, where Brandon Miller scored 13 points. Prior to that, they had rattled off a six-game winning streak, showcasing one of the league’s more potent offenses.

Miller, the Hornets’ standout forward, has been a driving force. Over his last 10 games, he is averaging 18.9 points, 5.6 rebounds and 4.3 assists, including a 29-point performance in a narrow loss to Philadelphia on March 28. His versatility will be key against a Nets defense that ranks near the bottom of the NBA.

The Nets (18-57) own the league’s worst record and have lost 14 of their last 16 games. Their most recent outing was a rare bright spot, a 116-99 victory over Sacramento on Sunday. Center Nicolas Claxton has been a consistent presence, averaging 7.9 points and 6.1 rebounds over the last 10 contests. He posted 16 points and seven rebounds in the win over the Kings.

Brooklyn will aim to replicate its success from the teams’ first meeting this season, a 116-103 Nets victory at home on Dec. 1. Charlotte dominated the other matchup, a 136-117 win in October.

For the Hornets, every game is critical as they jockey for seeding in the Eastern Conference. A loss to the league’s last-place team would be a significant setback. For the Nets, the focus remains on development and avoiding the infamy of the franchise’s worst season, with the team currently on pace to challenge that mark.

Tip-off is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. EDT. Charlotte continues a road trip Thursday at Phoenix, while Brooklyn hosts Atlanta on Friday.