Understanding their journey through the play-in tournament will include at least one road game if they are going to advance, Tuesday night’s matchup at FTX Arena was supposed to be a perfect tune up.
With the Charlotte Hornets tangling with the team atop the Eastern Conference standings in an unfriendly environment, it represented the kind of games they will probably find themselves in next week when the tournament begins.
“These are great challenges for us,” coach James Borrego said prior to tipoff. “These are playoff-type atmospheres. But every game prepares you. If you are waiting to get prepared right now, you are not a very good team.