Washington Wizards (11-11, ninth in the Eastern Conference) vs. Charlotte Hornets (6-15, 13th in the Eastern Conference)
Charlotte, North Carolina; Friday, 7 p.m. EST
BOTTOM LINE: Washington will try to break its four-game road skid when the Wizards visit Charlotte.
The Hornets are 2-5 against opponents in the Southeast Division. Charlotte ranks third in the Eastern Conference in rebounding averaging 45.4 rebounds. Mason Plumlee leads the Hornets with 8.8 boards.
The Wizards are 7-9 against Eastern Conference opponents. Washington has a 2-2 record in one-possession games.
The two teams play for the third time this season. The Wizards defeated the Hornets 106-102 in their last meeting on Nov. 20. Kyle Kuzma led the Wizards with 28 points, and Kelly Oubre Jr. led the Hornets with 23 points.
TOP PERFORMERS: Dennis Smith Jr. is averaging 9.3 points, 5.7 assists and 1.9 steals for the Hornets. Oubre is averaging 20.0 points over the last 10 games for Charlotte.
Bradley Beal is averaging 23.6 points and 5.6 assists for the Wizards. Kristaps Porzingis is averaging 21.3 points over the last 10 games for Washington.
LAST 10 GAMES: Hornets: 3-7, averaging 109.3 points, rebounds, assists, steals and blocks per game while shooting % from the field. Their opponents have averaged 117.1 points per game.
Wizards: 5-5, averaging 113.8 points, rebounds, assists, steals and blocks per game while shooting % from the field. Their opponents have averaged 112.6 points.
INJURIES: Hornets: LaMelo Ball: day to day (ankle), Gordon Hayward: out (shoulder), Terry Rozier: day to day (illness), Cody Martin: out (quad), Dennis Smith Jr.: day to day (ankle).
Wizards: Delon Wright: out (hamstring), Rui Hachimura: out (ankle).
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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.
The Associated Press
