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CHARLOTTE, N.C. (WBTV) – The Charlotte Hornets were on the bring of the playoffs heading into the final regular-season home game on Friday against the Detroit Pistons.
The Hornets have clinched a spot in the play-in for the first time since 2022.
The Hornets will host the Detroit Pistons on Friday, April 10, at the Spectrum Center, with tipoff scheduled for 7 p.m. It is the first game between the teams since the brawl in February, which resulted in four players being suspended.
—> Video: Hornets fans relive chaotic Monday night game courtside as brawl unfolded against Pistons
Charlotte is 0-2 against Detroit this season, with the most recent a 110-104 loss on Feb. 9.
They Hornets finish the regular season on the road against the New York Knicks on Sunday, April 12.
What’s on the line
The Hornets are currently 9th in the standings at 43-37 entering Friday’s game against the Pistons, who lead the Eastern Conference at 58-22.
Charlotte clinched at least a spot in the play-in — something they haven’t done since 2022. However, the Hornets are winless in the play-in, at 0-2.
Charlotte could finish as high as the No. 5 seed and avoid the play-in altogether — but they would need to win their remaining two games, and get help from other teams.
For now, the Hornets are locked into the play-in regardless of how the regular season ends. They’ll have a chance to be a 7th, 8th or 9th seed in the Eastern Conference play-in.
The play-in will take place from April 14-17.
The Hornets haven’t been to the playoffs since 2016, the longest NBA playoff drought in the Eastern Conference.
The Pistons are the top team in the Eastern Conference with 58 wins. They’ll host the No. 8 seed for the play-in.
The playoffs start on April 18.
Hornets-Pistons February brawl
Friday night’s game between Charlotte and Detroit at the Spectrum Center will be the first game between the teams since Feb. 9, when Detroit won 110-104.
The loss to the Pistons snapped a nine-game winning streak for the Hornets.
However, the game was overshadowed by a brawl that resulted in four players being ejected, and later suspended. Hornets coach Charles Lee was also ejected later in the game.
Hornets players Miles Bridges and Moussa Diabate were suspended for four games each. The Pistons’ Isaiah Stewart was suspended for seven games, and Jalen Duren was suspended for two games.
—> Read more: 4 players ejected after Hornets-Pistons fight suspended by NBA
Brandon Miller led the Hornets with 24 points during that game, while LaMelo Ball and Kon Knueppel each scored 20.
Cade Cunningham led the Pistons with 33 points.
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