Hornets’ remaining schedule could decide play-in fate

The Charlotte Hornets are sitting right in the middle of the Eastern Conference race at 31-31. And the next few weeks could determine whether they land on the more favorable side of the play-in bracket.

As relayed in the latest ESPN’s latest power rankings, Charlotte still has two key games remaining against the Miami Heat, along with another matchup against the Orlando Magic. Victories in those contests could help push the Hornets into the No. 7 or No. 8 play-in spots rather than the more dangerous single-elimination No. 9-10 game.

There’s also another date circled on the calendar.

Charlotte hosts the Detroit Pistons on April 10 in what will be the teams’ first meeting since their heated on-court brawl last month.

If both teams are still playing for positioning and still using their regular rotations, that late-season matchup could provide plenty of intrigue.

At the moment, though, the Hornets’ immediate focus remains the standings.

A couple of wins against divisional rivals could make a meaningful difference in where they land when the postseason arrives.