Although the Charlotte Hornets are doing nearly everything they can to quit the playoff race, the weak Eastern Conference seems to be refusing their resignation letter.
If they can win for just the fourth time in 13 games Wednesday night against the visiting Detroit Pistons (6:30 p.m. pregame, 7 p.m. tip-off on FOX Sports Detroit), the Hornets could climb within a game of the conference's No. 8 spot. A loss, however, would drop them 1 1/2 behind 12th-place Detroit.
Charlotte (31-42) missed a chance to make up ground with Monday's 116-104 home loss to Boston, which sits 1 1/2 games ahead in the No. 9 spot. Brooklyn is one-half game ahead of the Celtics in eighth, while 10th-place Indiana is a full game behind Boston.
The Hornets, meanwhile, are a half-game back of the Pacers and two off the Nets' pace. Seventh-place Miami has dropped four of six and is only one-half up on Brooklyn, so no one is making anything too difficult for those in pursuit.
Against Boston, Kemba Walker had 28 points and 12 assists, but the point guard recognizes the team is running out of chances.
"It was a huge game for us," he said. "It's definitely a little disappointing."
Mo Williams had 19 points off the bench and is averaging 21.0 in his last three, while Gerald Henderson had 17 and is averaging the same over seven games.
The Hornets have needed the increased production with Michael Kidd-Gilchrist having missed two games with an ankle injury. He won't face Detroit and Cody Zeller is questionable after missing 10 of 11 with a shoulder ailment.
Lance Stephenson didn't see the floor, either, but that was a coach's decision. In his first season of a three-year deal, Stephenson played a season-low eight minutes in Saturday's 115-100 win over Atlanta, and his role has been in decline since starting the first 25 games of the season.
"I think the biggest thing for him is he's 23 and this is the first time he's gone somewhere different," coach Steve Clifford said. "He's played for the same team and same coach for four years with the same basic offensive and defensive structure."
For Detroit (29-45), Greg Monroe is questionable with a knee injury that has cost him eight games, but center Andre Drummond has stepped up with 18.5 points and 14.4 rebounds in that span. Drummond had 22 points and 13 rebounds in Tuesday's 105-95 home win over Atlanta to help Detroit win for the sixth time in those eight games.
The Pistons have also seen increased production out of Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, who has averaged 18.6 points over the same eight-game stretch.
Their go-to guy more often than not lately, though, has been Reggie Jackson. Caldwell-Pope's backcourt mate had 12 points and 11 assists against the Hawks and has averaged 21.3 points and 11.4 assist in eight games.
He's also making good decisions with the ball while shooting 50.4 percent - including 46.2 from 3-point range - and posting an assist-to-turnover ratio of 4.33. Jackson was limited some Tuesday due to illness.
"I was a little under the weather, and I felt it before the game, but I tried to give the guys everything I could," Jackson said.
The Hornets have won four of five against the Pistons, including a 108-101 victory in Detroit on March 8. The season series began with Detroit rolling to a 106-78 win at Charlotte on Feb. 10 and concludes April 12 at the Palace of Auburn Hills.
