The Charlotte Hornets are officially the hottest team in the East that nobody saw coming.
On Thursday night, they rolled into Houston and left with a convincing double-digit win over the Rockets - a statement victory that extends their win streak to eight games. That’s not just impressive; it’s historic. This is Charlotte’s longest winning streak since the 1999-2000 season, and it's happening under the watch of first-year head coach Charles Lee, who’s quickly making his mark.
Leading the charge was rookie Kon Knueppel, who continues to show maturity beyond his years. He dropped 24 points, grabbed four boards, and added two assists - but it wasn’t just the numbers.
It was the poise, the shot selection, and the way he anchored the offense when the Hornets needed a spark. For a team that’s trying to climb out of the bottom half of the standings, Knueppel is playing like someone who’s been here before.
Off the bench, Josh Green delivered a near-perfect performance - literally. Green went 4-for-4 from the field, including 3-of-3 from deep, and chipped in 14 points, four steals, and a block. That kind of two-way efficiency is rare, and it gave Charlotte the kind of depth they’ve been missing for stretches this season.
After the game, Knueppel kept the focus grounded. “Taking it game by game, not looking at the streak as a whole,” he said.
“I think that’s the recipe for success.” And he’s not wrong.
Charlotte’s recent run hasn’t been about flash - it’s been about cohesion, consistency, and a young team figuring out how to win together.
“Playing a lot of games together, you get better and better at it,” Knueppel added. “As we continue on in the season, we’re gonna keep growing together and getting better.”
That growth is translating into real movement in the standings. Thanks to Chicago’s loss to the Raptors, Charlotte now sits in 10th place in the Eastern Conference - the final Play-In Tournament spot.
And they’re not done climbing. The Hornets are just 1.5 games back of the Atlanta Hawks for ninth, and here’s where it gets interesting: they face Atlanta twice in their next three games.
The season series between the two teams is tied 1-1, and Saturday’s matchup in Atlanta could be a tone-setter for both squads. For Charlotte, it’s a chance to keep riding this wave and solidify their spot in the Play-In picture. For Atlanta, it’s a chance to hold off a surging rival that suddenly looks like a real threat.
No one had the Hornets penciled in as a postseason team a few weeks ago. But with a young core clicking, a coach pushing all the right buttons, and momentum firmly on their side, Charlotte’s making believers out of the rest of the league - one game at a time.