The Charlotte Hornets are experiencing a remarkable turnaround as they find themselves in the midst of a seven-game winning streak, their longest since the 2015-16 season. With a record of 23-28, the Hornets are just three wins shy of matching the franchise record for consecutive victories, which stands at ten games, set during the 1997-98 season. Their impressive streak follows a tough period where they lost seven straight games back in November.
The Hornets will aim for their eighth consecutive victory on Thursday night when they take on the Houston Rockets (31-18) at the Toyota Center, starting at 8 p.m. ET. Since suffering a narrow loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers on January 21, the Hornets have been on fire, winning by an average margin of 13.85 points, including major wins by 27 points or more in two of those games.
Historically, the Hornets have encountered challenges against the Rockets, losing four of their last five meetings. However, Charlotte has managed to secure victories in three of their last five outings in Houston. The Rockets, who had recently been on a hot streak of their own, winning eight of ten games, faced a setback with a 114-93 loss to the Boston Celtics on Wednesday, marking a rare home defeat for this season, where they maintained a 17-5 record until that loss.
In addition to the Hornets-Rockets matchup, Thursday’s NBA schedule features several intriguing games, including the Philadelphia 76ers (29-21) facing off against the Los Angeles Lakers (30-19) at 10 p.m. ET. The 76ers are on a five-game winning streak, bolstered by strong performances in their recent games, while the Lakers will be looking to bounce back from a mixed road trip.
In the NHL, the Ottawa Senators (27-22-7) will take on the Philadelphia Flyers (25-20-10) at 7 p.m. ET. The Senators recently matched their season best with four consecutive victories but faced a loss against the Carolina Hurricanes, while history favors Ottawa in their encounters with the Flyers this season.
Finally, college basketball fans can look forward to a game between Memphis (10-11) and UAB (14-8) at 9 p.m. ET, where both teams are looking to reverse recent downturns.
As the sports world gears up for a busy Thursday night, the focus will undoubtedly be on the Hornets and their quest for continued success, as they aspire to reach an elusive eight-game winning streak for the first time in over two decades.