Hornets Season Set to End Against the Celtics
The Charlotte Hornets will face the Boston Celtics in their last two games to end the 2024-25 season. They will have two more opportunities to get back in the win column and end their season with victories over the reigning NBA Champions. This season has been mired by injuries, but Charlotte fans have seen glimpses of what this team could look like when healthy. Expect Boston to not play their starters for long in these two games as they have already locked in the number two seed in the Eastern Conference.
The Hornets are on a five-game slide and have lost each game by double digits. These are hard times for Charlotte as they look towards the offseason, but bright spots have emerged in Miles Bridges and Nick Smith Jr. Bridges is averaging 20 points in his last ten games and Smith is coming off a season-best 28 points in a loss to the Raptors. Their offensive numbers have been impressive, but the team's defense has been declining. The team has given up 115 or more points and has seen their defensive rating drop significantly from where it was during the majority of the season. For first-year head coach Charles Lee, he sees these last few games as opportunities for the team to grow.
The Celtics have won three out of their last four games and are probably not giving their starters a lot of minutes in these last two games. This opens the door for the Hornets to have opportunities to win. Charlotte is shooting 44 percent from the field during their losing streak and are averaging 43 rebounds and 24 assists in their last ten games. Boston is shooting 47 percent from the field and has averaged 105 points in their last ten games. Whether they win or lose, the Hornets will finish 14th in the Eastern Conference and with the possibility to get a high draft pick in the upcoming NBA Draft Lottery. With this year’s class loaded with bigs and perimeter scorers, the Hornets should be able to get a player that can complement the young core that has been in place in Coach Lee’s second season.
