Charlotte Hornets are for real as a playoff contender

NBAE

Charlotte Hornets center Moussa Diabate dunks the ball in the first half of their game on March 24, 2026 at Spectrum Center. The Hornets are 39-34 after a 114-103 win against the New York Knicks on March 26.

It is time to start talking about the Hornets like they are a top team.

Sounds crazy, right? Well, not really. 

Since Jan. 1 the Hornets (39-34) are tied for third in terms of record at 28-12, trailing only San Antonio (31-9) and Oklahoma City (28-11). Among teams they are tied with — Boston and Detroit — the Hornets are scoring more points per game and shooting the best three-point percentage. 

Fresh off a 114-103 win against the New York Knicks, Charlotte is 1.5 games behind Toronto for sixth place in the Eastern Conference. All eyes are on the sixth spot because it would mean no play-in games and for the Hornets, a playoff berth for the first time in 10 years.

To Hornets forward Brandon Miller, their place in the standings isn’t what motivates him or his teammates.

“We don’t worry about [the standings],” Miller said. “We just go out there game-to-game with the mindset of competing at the highest level every night. Whether we stand first or last, we’re going to go out there and play as hard as we can every night.” 

Given the 10-year playoff drought, is that motivation? 

“You know, it’s cool and all,” Miller said. “It’s not really our focus right now. Like I said, our focus is no control of what we control right now. I think we controlled the game tonight, and of course, we got a great win over a good team. So, just keep going.”

Coach Charles Lee said he felt beating the Knicks was less of a statement than the team is focused on daily improvement.

“Our group has a lot to continue to learn,” he said, “how to finish games, how to match the physicality that starts to come our way when you have a lead or you’re into the fourth quarter. So, there’s still some areas that we want to continue to get better at, but when we’re playing the right way, when the communication is high, we’re a really good team.”

Lee also credited Hornets’ fans for their support. Often fans of marquee teams like the Los Angeles Lakers, Boston Celtics and especially the Knicks take over Spectrum Center. That wasn’t the case Thursday.

“It was amazing that our Hornets fans were able to drown out some of the Knicks fans, which I loved, and we appreciate,” Lee said. “So, that definitely helped us and created a real home court advantage feel, even though they are such a top team and they travel so well.” 

Charlotte forward Kon Knueppel, who tied Knicks guard Jalen Brunson for a game-high 26 points, hit six three-pointers, grabbed 11 rebounds and handed out eight assists. Knueppel has separated himself from the field as front-runner for rookie of the year. 

“I think sometimes he gets labeled as just a shooter,” Lee said, “but we feel his impact in so many different ways. It’s defensively. He’s got to guard Brunson at times when certain guys go out or maybe in foul trouble, other teams try to target him and realize that he’s probably not as weak of a link as you think. He’s helping us on the boards with his physicality. And then offensively, he definitely adds gravity … so that we do have more driving lanes.”

Said Knueppel: “I think just committing to the mentality of winning the day and just getting better within each day. We’re not trying to look ahead. We’re not trying to dwell in the past and what happened yesterday or last game and I think that’s a good spot to be mind-wise.”

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