NBA play-in schedule announced: Hornets would play on Tuesday and possibly Thursday

By Richard Walker

The Charlotte Hornets will open their NBA play-in tournament on Tuesday, the league announced Friday evening.

They hope they are playing at the seventh-seeded Boston Celtics.

Charlotte (33-37) enters the weekend in eighth place.

If the Hornets can keep the No. 8 seed they will have the chance to beat Boston and earn the No. 7 seed in the Eastern Conference playoffs or, with a loss, host the winner of Tuesday’s No. 10 at No. 9 winner on Thursday for the No. 8 seed in the Eastern Conference playoffs.

Charlotte is currently tied with Indiana (33-37) for eighth but holds the tiebreaker over the Pacers by virtue of a 2-1 seasonal series win.

Charlotte, Indiana and Washington (32-38) will finish eighth, ninth or 10th in the final standings, with Chicago needing win its final two games while having Washington lose its final two games in order to advance.

The full play-in tournament schedule:

Tuesday’s games
Game 1 – East 10th at East 9th
Game 2 – East 8th at East 7th (Boston)

Wednesday’s games
Game 3 – West 10th (San Antonio) at West 9th
Game 4 – West 8th at West 7th

Thursday’s game
Game 5 – Winner Game 1 at Loser Game 2

Friday’s game
Game 6 – Winner Game 3 at Loser Game 4