NFL
By: Chris Jordan
The NBA Play In Tournament will begin tonight. The (33-39) Charlotte Hornets will be facing the (34-38) Indiana Pacers. Charlotte is the 10th seed and the Pacers are the 9th seed.
The winner will face the loser between the Washington Wizards and the Boston Celtics.
The Pacers and the Hornets are two talented teams and they will be fighting for their playoff lives. This matchup should be fun to watch.
The last time they played each other the Hornets beat the Pacers 114-97.
The Hornets won the season series 2-1 in the regular season.
The Pacers won the first meeting in January 116-106.
The Hornets won the second meeting in a close-fought win 108-105.
The Pacers will have a chip on their shoulder coming into the game, and they hope to have a different outcome as they face the Hornets tomorrow.
The Pacers will be looking at Domantas Sabonis who has been an NBA All-Star for his second straight season. Sabonis averaged 20.2 points, 11.9 rebounds, and 6.7 assists per game. Despite, Sabonis nagging injuries through the season but appeared in 8 of their final 9 games.
The Pacers won’t have big man Miles Turner, who has a toe injury and has played just once since April 6. Turner averaged 12.6 points and 6.5 rebounds. His presence will be missed in tomorrow’s game.
Malcolm Brogdon (hamstring) has missed the last 10 regular-season games but is expected to play. Brogdon in the regular season averaged 21.3 points, 5.3 rebounds, and 5.9 assists per game.
Other key contributors: Caris LeVert (21.0 points), Doug McDermott(13.5), Justin Holiday (10.5), and TJ McConnell (8.6 points, 6.5 assists, 1.9 steals).
The Pacers are trying to make the playoffs for their second consecutive season in the row. Last season, in the opening round against the Miami Heat the Pacers got swept.
They haven’t been past the first- round of the playoffs since the 2013-2014 season when they went to the Eastern Conference finals and loss to the Miami Heat lead by LeBron James.
Other on the hand, the Hornets are a young team that has a lot of talent.
This Hornets team is a fun team to watch and they are lead by their front-runner Rookie of the Year in LaMelo Ball.
Ball was sidelined for 20 games this season because of a wrist injury.
Although Ball had missed some time this season he was still able to play throughout May and averaged 15.7 points, 5.9 rebounds, 6.2 assists per game for the season.
Terry Rozier led the Hornets in scoring. He averaged 20.6 points per game and shot 38.9% from three-point range.
The Hornets are confident especially because they beat the Pacers in the previous meeting back in April.
The Hornets key contributors: Devonte Graham (14.8 points, 5.4 assists), P.J. Washington (12.9 points, 6.5 rebounds), Miles Bridges (12.7 points,40% 3FG,6.0 rebounds, Malik Monk (11.7 points,43.4% 3FG).
The Hornets will be without Gordan Hayward who hasn’t played since April 2 with a foot injury and he’s unlikely to play.
Hayward averaged 19.6 points per game, 4.1 assists per game, and 5.9 rebounds per game.
The Charlotte Hornets haven’t made the playoffs since the 2015-2016 season. They also have never been passed the first round of the playoffs.
The Hornets as a franchise have underachieved since Michael Jordan bought the team in 2010 when the were the Bobcats.
The winner between these two teams can be a good step for the Hornets and Pacers because both teams are young and have some good talent on their rosters.
Will the Hornets or the Pacers make the next step for their franchise and make the playoffs?
Can the Hornets beat the Pacers for the third time or will the Pacers get their revenge?
What players will emerge in the playoffs and separate themselves?
Will LaMelo Ball be the difference in his team winning or losing?
