Kon Knueppel scored 26 points as the Charlotte Hornets maintained their late-season charge for an NBA playoff berth with an emphatic 114-103 defeat of the high-flying New York Knicks on Thursday.<\/p>\n
Charlotte forward Knueppel rattled in six three-pointers as part of an impressive all-round team shooting display to help the Hornets extend their winning streak to five games as they chase a postseason ticket.<\/p>\n
LaMelo Ball finished with 22 points, six assists and five rebounds, one of five Charlotte players to finish in double digits.<\/p>\n
The Hornets have now won 23 of their last 29 games since late January, and are firmly in the thick of the Eastern Conference race for the playoffs.<\/p>\n
With sixth-placed Toronto occupying the last automatic playoff spot at 40-32, Charlotte are part of a cluster of teams jostling for position just below them.<\/p>\n
Philadelphia occupy seventh place on 40-33 while Charlotte, Orlando and Miami all have identical 39-34 records.<\/p>\n
Charlotte’s blistering form is part of a remarkable turnaround this season for the franchise, who finished just one place off the bottom of the Eastern Conference last season with just 19 wins.<\/p>\n
Orlando kept pace with Charlotte on Thursday with a 121-117 defeat of the Sacramento Kings, thanks to 30 points from Paolo Banchero and 23 from Desmond Bane.<\/p>\n
In Thursday’s other game, the Eastern Conference-leading Detroit Pistons bounced back from Wednesday’s overtime defeat to Atlanta with a comfortable 129-108 defeat of the New Orleans Pelicans.<\/p>\n
With Cade Cunningham still absent as he recovers from a collapsed lung, Jalen Duren took on the offensive duties with 30 points and 10 rebounds.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Kevin Huerter added 22 points while Daniss Jenkins chipped in with 19.<\/p>\n
The Pistons improved to 53-20 and enjoy a comfortable four-and-a-half game lead at the top of the East.<\/p>\n
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