Knicks vs Hornets Preview & Predictions

The New York Knicks (8-36) take on the Charlotte Hornets (18-26) Friday in a battle of teams looking to gain ground in the Eastern Conference. The Knicks are riding a rare three-game winning streak (they managed a 113-106 victory over the Orlando Magic last night), while the Hornets are also on the second night of a back-to-back. Their matchup was a bit less encouraging, though - Charlotte was comprehensively blown out by Cleveland in a game that was pretty much over by halftime.

Vital Stats:

Where? Time Warner Cable Arena, Charlotte, NC

When? 7:00 PM ET

What Channel? Turner Sports South HD

What To Watch For:

Can the Knicks make it four in a row?

The last time the Knicks won four consecutive games? April 11-16, 2014. This season, their previous best winning streak was just two, and they've won as many games in the last week than they won in the two months that preceded it.

Carmelo Anthony has played well this week, and the Knicks have gotten solid contributions from unheralded players like Jason Smith, Langston Galloway and Lance Thomas. A fourth straight win would be incredibly encouraging for this squad as they try to salvage something out of what looks like a lost season.

Can the Hornets shake off last night?

Charlotte wasn't just blown out last night - they were absolutely embarrassed. The Hornets were down 75-40 at the half, and the 39-point margin of victory was their worst loss of the season to date.

The Hornets were a disaster on defense, letting Cleveland shoot 51.7% from the floor and 53.6% from three-point range. Coach Steve Clifford will need to make sure they produce a better effort tonight, and they'll need to prove the Cleveland game was an anomaly and not a sign of things to come.

Prediction: Knicks win, 86-82

These teams haven't exactly lit it up on offense this year, but we can see the reinvigorated Knicks grinding out a win over a tired, demoralized Hornets squad. A lot will come down to how well the Knicks handle Al Jefferson - he could go off and swing this Charlotte's way - but after what happened in Cleveland, we just can't bring ourselves to pick the Hornets.

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