Charlotte Hornets still hopes to play the playoff game after her victory in Detroit

DETROIT

I noticed an expression on Kemba Walker's face late Sunday night. I have not seen much lately:

Delight.

I do not mean that Walker, the leader of the Charlotte Hornets, is a grumpy guy. But this team has not enjoyed much joy since the catastrophic collapse of the fourth quarter in Miami. Beat the Detroit Pistons on the road, and knowing that means they still play basketball, there are two games left in the regular season, sparked the enchantment.

"It's crazy that we are in this situation; The year was so hectic, "Walker said, beaming after a 104-91 victory over the Pistons. "It's fun, man. I really enjoy myself. Play for something. "

These words – "play for something" – are so important to Walker, that's why Hornets fans love him and why they could still lose him once he becomes a free agent in July. Money counts, as well as the roots he established for eight years in Charlotte. But he aspires to be relevant at the end of a regular season, with a chance to advance in the playoffs.

Sunday, there was an energy in this locker room both before and after this match.

"It's live!" Walker said. "The energy is great."

Players frequently fiddle with their phone after the game, but it was different. they followed the Brooklyn Nets against the Indiana Pacers (the Nets won for a playoff spot) and re-checked the start time of the road match against the Boston Celtics by the Orlando Magic.

They all seemed perfectly aware that if the Magic lost the match, the Hornets would control their own destiny: win the last two against the Cavaliers in Cleveland on Tuesday and at home against the Magic on Wednesday, and reach the playoffs for the first time. in three seasons.

Their chances of playing in the playoffs seemed to have been seriously compromised by a trip on the road from the Trio to the Western Conference, but the Miami Heat and Pistons continued to lose, while the Hornets won three in a row. Suddenly, everything seemed possible.

"I have all the confidence of the world in this team," said Frank Kaminsky, "and I think we'll make it happen."

Improvisation

Kaminsky was decisive Sunday to keep this conviction alive. The Hornets had a 23-point lead at the end of the first half, but the Pistons reduced the deficit to one point in the fourth quarter. Kaminsky resisted this race by scoring 15 of his 24 points, the highest of the season, in the second half.

The season was strange for Kaminsky, who also becomes a free agent in July. He was so out of the rotation at one point that there was talk of giving up a guaranteed salary – a "buyout" according to the terminology of the NBA – so that he could then be signed.

Then coach James Borrego played him in a game against the Nets on March 1, and he excelled. Whatever you think of Borrego's performance for the first season as a Hornet coach, you have to give him this: Each player has a good playing time and has reason to believe that Borrego trusts him.

"There are games where you are asked to play a lot of minutes and different games where the fights are not in your favor and where he plays with different people," Kaminsky said. "I think he's been showing all the season that he was ready to make a difference, and I think it's great."

On Sunday, we discussed how Walker reacted to the defensive attention given to the teams and how Kaminsky can be a safety valve, thanks to his 3-point shot. Whenever the Pistons hired two defenders, Walker seemed to find Kaminsky for an open shot. Kaminsky was 6 of 9 on the field in the second half, including 3 out of 4 in the 3-point range.

Walker was great Sunday with 31 points, eight rebounds and seven assists. He played 41 minutes out of 48, then went on to play before Borrego had the chance to call him at the scorer's table.

Magnificence

Walker will need more magnificence to bring this team to the playoffs because his help has diminished. Center Cody Zeller missed his 15th consecutive game with a sore and swollen left knee. Striker Michael Kidd-Gilchrist missed Sunday with a personal emergency. Striker Marvin Williams missed his third game in a row with a sprained right foot.

After the game, I asked Williams if he thought he would play again this season. Williams said he could not imagine being ready for Cleveland and that the home game against the Magic seemed a distant possibility. After the defeat on the road against Utah Jazz last Wednesday, Williams approached Borrego and told him that he was so hurt that he felt he was doing more harm to him. team only to help trying to play.

Sometimes you do your part by eliminating 41 minutes or scoring 15 points in the second period. Sometimes you humbly help to admit that you are too hurt to play.

Even in his suit behind the Sunday bench, Williams shared that feeling:

Delight they are still alive.