The Charlotte Hornets are hoping to create a three-way tie in the NBA standings tonight with a win over the Sacramento Kings and an Orlando Magic loss to Cleveland.<\/p>\n
Moments ago, both head coaches submitted their starting lineups for tonight’s game.<\/p>\n
The first five for the Hive<\/p>\n
G LaMelo Ball – After a red-hot week, Ball was named the Easter Conference’s Player of the Week. He’s playing arguably the best basketball of his career and is the main reason for the Hornets’ surge.<\/p>\n
G Kon Knueppel – Kon is experiencing a little lower back soreness, but he was cleared by the medical team and will play in this one. He’s still missed just one game all season long.<\/p>\n
G Brandon Miller – Miller has hit at least four threes in each of his last three games and had a combined 47 points against Orlando and Memphis.<\/p>\n
F Miles Bridges – Bridges continues to take a backseat offensively, but it’s paid off for him and the team. He’s been more efficient and has not been forcing things nearly as much.<\/p>\n
C Moussa Diabat\u00e9 – Moussa finally hit double digits in scoring with 11 points vs. Memphis, putting an end to a nine-game drought. He also pulled down 14 rebounds in that one.<\/p>\n
The first five for the Kings<\/p>\n
G Devin Carter – Carter isn’t known to score the ball, but over the last two games, he’s combined for 40 points.<\/p>\n
G Malik Monk – With multiple guys ruled out for this one, the former Hornets will get slotted into the starting five. He’s coming off the heels of a 32-point night, albeit against the Brooklyn Nets. Still, he hit seven triples in that one.<\/p>\n
F DeMar DeRozan – The last time these two met, he drilled 17\/22 shots from the field, pushing 40 points on the night. DeRozan is always a tough customer, but I’d be surprised if he has similar success tonight.<\/p>\n
F Patrick Baldwin – Baldwin has only played in five games this season and is making his first start.<\/p>\n
C Maxime Raynaud – The rookie is really starting to come into his own, posting four 20-point games in his last five outings, two of which were 30-point nights. One of his quietest games in recent memory came against these very Hornets, who held him to just four points.<\/p>\n