Right when it looked like the Charlotte Hornets playoff chances were all but dead, a three-game winning streak has the Hornets fighting for the final playoff spot alongside the Detroit Pistons and Miami Heat with two games remaining in the NBA regular season.
The Brooklyn Nets clinched a playoff spot with their 41st win leaving two spots remaining.
All Charlotte needed to put destiny in their own hands was the Orlando Magic to lose to the Boston Celtics, but that didn't happen.
The Magic, coached by former Hornets head coach Steve Clifford, clinched their first playoff berth in seven years.
The good thing? Charlotte holds tiebreakers over Detroit and Miami. There are two scenarios remaining that allows the Hornets to clinch a playoff berth.
Charlotte defeats their final two opponents to finish with a 40-42 record. They play the Cleveland Cavaliers on the road Tuesday and host Orlando to close out the season on Wednesday.
If Detroit wins a game and the Hornets lose one, Charlotte is eliminated.
If the Pistons win both, they'll finish the season 41-41 and it won't matter how Charlotte finishes.
If Charlotte goes 1-1 in their final two games and Detroit goes 0-2, the Hornets would leap the Pistons. However, the Hornets would need Miami to also go 1-1.
Therefore, the Hornets need help.
How can the Heat make it? Well, they need a little more help.
Miami would have to defeat Philadelphia and Brooklyn to close out the season and then hope Charlotte loses one of their final two games and Detroit loses both.
The Heat is eliminated with a loss.