Securing a fourth consecutive victory will be the target for the New York Knicks when they welcome the Charlotte Hornets to Madison Square Garden on Friday in the 2024-25 NBA regular-season campaign.
On the other hand, the away side will head to New York City looking to arrest a huge slump in form having been beaten in each of their last six encounters.
Match preview
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Facing off against an in-form Orlando Magic side, the New York Knicks made light work of a supposedly difficult challenge by cruising to a 121-106 victory on home court in Wednesday's meeting between the sides.
Recording an 11th double-double on the bounce, Karl-Anthony Towns led the way for Tom Thibodeau's men, tallying 23 points on 8-18 shooting from the field to go along with 15 rebounds in 36 minutes of action.
Since a 129-114 defeat to the Dallas Mavericks on November 28, the Knicks have now won three straight games and have consequently improved to a 13-8 record to sit fourth in the Eastern Conference standings.
While they are still somewhat off the pace when compared to frontrunners Cleveland Cavaliers and the Boston Celtics, the Knicks have exhibited of late the kind of form worthy of championship contenders as they look to end a 51-year wait for NBA supremacy.
In the third of four straight home matches to kick off December, Friday's hosts now target a fourth straight victory for only the second time this season before taking on the Detroit Pistons 48 hours later.
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Not so often do teams lose every game of a five-match home stretch, but the Charlotte Hornets managed to do exactly just that following a 110-104 defeat to the Philadelphia 76ers at the Spectrum Center on Wednesday.
A slow start saw Charles Lee's men score just 20 points on 8-20 shooting in the first quarter, and despite drawing level heading into the final 30 seconds of the contest, they fell short of a comeback thanks to a Tyrese Maxey-led 8-2 run to close out proceedings.
Finishing ahead of only the Washington Wizards and the Detroit Pistons, the Hornets endured a disappointing campaign last time out and currently find themselves in the lower echelons of the standings once again with a 6-15 record.
Ranked 29th for field goals made per game and 30th for shooting efficiency from the field, the Hornets have been abysmal offensively despite boasting the player with the second most points per game this term in LaMelo Ball.
Having lost each of the most recent five competitive meetings against their upcoming opponents, Friday's visitors have a huge task on their hands away from home as they look to turn things around heading into the festive period.
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Team News
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Mitchell Robinson is yet to fully recuperate from an ankle problem and will not feature for the New York Knicks on Friday as he awaits his first outing of the season.
Kevin McCullar Jr and Precious Achiuwa also miss out for the home side with knee and hamstring problems respectively, but Miles McBride is back available once again.
Guards Tre Mann and LaMelo Ball are ruled out for the Charlotte Hornets through back and calf injuries, meaning that Vasilije Micic will retain his starting spot once again.
Grant Williams is not expected to feature again this season after sustaining a torn anterior cruciate ligament in last month's clash against the Milwaukee Bucks.
Twenty-six-year-old Miles Bridges is doubtful for the away side as he continues to nurse a knee injury that has seen him miss each of the last seven matches.
New York Knicks possible starting five:
Brunson, Hart; Bridges, Anunoby; Towns
Charlotte Hornets possible starting five:
Micic, Green; Miller, Salaun; Richards
We say: Knicks to win by 9+ points
Given the injury concerns currently faced by the Hornets, any chances of securing a victory against all odds here have been further dampened.
We fully expect the home side to cruise to a routine victory when all is said and done here.
Adepoju Marvellous
