When the New York Knicks clinched a long-awaited playoff berth Wednesday night, the Charlotte Hornets were left with the longest postseason drought in the Eastern Conference.
Yet, the Hornets, trying to maintain their No. 8 seeding in the East, can improve their chances of ending that drought Saturday afternoon when they visit the Knicks at Madison Square Garden.
Both teams were off Friday after playing at home Thursday, when the Knicks overcame a 17-point third-quarter deficit to edge the San Antonio Spurs 102-98 and the Hornets fell to the Los Angeles Clippers 113-90.
The loss was the third straight for the Hornets (33-37), who have lost most of their margin for error in the race for favorable seeding in the Eastern Conference's play-in tournament.