Houston Rockets vs. Charlotte Hornets game preview

The Rockets close out their 5-game road trip tonight in Charlotte.It's a big game for both teams. Houston is now tied for seventh place in the West and only half-a-game away from sixth place and a first round matchup against a team that isn't Golden State or San Antonio. The Hornets currently sit in fifth place and are only two games out of third place after Boston dropped a game last night to some team in red.

Coming into this road trip, it really felt like Houston's playoff hopes would rest on their performance in these five games. At 3-1, they have surpassed expectations by beating the second- and third-best teams in the East on their floors and are one win away from a 4-1 record that…