The Charlotte Hornets have reached a certain level despite a couple of recent losses.
The Los Angeles Clippers figure they need to keep winning to maintain their spot in the standings.
The teams meet in a game ripe with implications Thursday night in Charlotte, N.C.
Despite losing their past two games, the Hornets have qualified for the NBA's Eastern Conference play-in round for the postseason. That happened when the Chicago Bulls lost to the Brooklyn Nets on Tuesday night.
"No room for celebration," Hornets coach James Borrego said. "We've got a lot of work to do.