A promising finish to the 2018-19 regular season ended with the Charlotte Hornets coming up just two games shy of their first postseason berth in three years. The playoffs were a long shot a month ago, then they became unlikely, then somewhat feasible and perhaps even at times, a real possibility. Alas though, it just wasn’t meant to be this year.
Over the final 12 games of the season, Charlotte went 8-4, ranking seventh in the NBA in offensive rating (115.3) and winning all three of its one-possession or overtime games. Needing a win in their regular season finale on Wednesday night coupled with a loss by the Detroit Pistons in New York, the Hornets unfortunately got neither desired outcome.