The Indiana Pacers and Charlotte Hornets have something in common — they’re both playing at perhaps their highest levels of the season.
It’s just that the Hornets will have much more at stake when the teams meet Friday night in Charlotte, N.C.
The Hornets (41-36) have won seven of their last nine games and are trying to strengthen their grip on a spot in the NBA play-in tournament.
“We’ve got to let our defense dictate our offense,” Charlotte forward Miles Bridges said. “As long as we play defense, I feel we’re going to be in good shape because everybody (on our team) can score the ball.”
The Pacers (18-58) have been eliminated from playoff contention but have won three of their last five games.
“I like the way we’re playing right now,” coach Rick Carlisle said. “We’re doing the things we need to do to be a good team right now.”
Six Hornets scored in double figures in Thursday night’s 127-107 home victory against the Phoenix Suns. Yet several players pointed to rookie center Ryan Kalkbrenner’s four blocked shots as providing energy.
Then there was rookie guard Kon Knueppel, who has drained 261 shots from 3-point range to set the franchise single-season record that had been held by now-assistant coach Kemba Walker.
“During this time, you usually see rookies going down,” Bridges said, “but our rookies are doing great.”
There’s also the veteran presence of guard Coby White, who has scored in double figures in 10 consecutive games off the Charlotte bench.
“I just try to go out there and help any way I can,” White said.
The Pacers are aiming for their second three-game winning streak of the season after defeating Miami on Sunday and Chicago on Wednesday. Those games — with final scores of 135-118 and 145-126, respectively — marked the two highest-scoring outputs in regulation this season for Indiana.
The Pacers racked up 49 assists on 58 baskets Wednesday.
“The ball has energy; it goes in the basket more,” Carlisle said. “I think we’re shooting the ball well. We got a rhythm.”
Ethan Thompson scored a career-high 24 points vs. the Bulls.
“I’m happy for him,” Carlisle said. “He has kept himself ready.”
Pascal Siakam has led Indiana in scoring in four of the last five games.
Siakam (sore right knee) and Obi Toppin (sore right foot) have shown up on recent Indiana injury reports. T.J. McConnell (hamstring) and Andrew Nembhard (back) missed Wednesday’s game. Nembhard led the Pacers in scoring with 20 points in February in the most recent meeting with Charlotte.
Even with some questions about roster availability, the Pacers have found a groove.
“We can play without guys like that because we have guys that can make plays,” Carlisle said. “Kobe Brown can make plays. (Ben Sheppard) can handle it. Ethan Thompson can handle it.”
The Pacers beat Charlotte 127-118 on Nov. 19 and 114-112 on Jan. 8, while the Hornets won a Feb. 26 matchup 133-109. Brandon Miller had 33 points for Charlotte in the latter game with 22 successful 3-point shots — twice as many 3s as the Pacers made that night.
