PREVIEW: The New York Knicks and Charlotte Hornets enter Wednesday's matchup with their playoff hopes hanging in the balance, as both teams face elimination from the knockout round with a loss. New York arrives in Charlotte with significant road struggles, having captured just two victories away from home all season. Despite their travel woes, oddsmakers still favor the Knicks following their dominant performance against Brooklyn on Monday. The Hornets, meanwhile, have stumbled through the campaign, winning only four of their opening 17 games while ranking 21st in net rating. Jalen Brunson enters the contest in excellent three-point form, shooting 36.7 percent from distance this season and attempting a career-high 7.8 triples per game, which becomes particularly relevant against a Charlotte defense that ranks dead last in opponent three-point percentage at 41.1 percent. The Knicks experience a dramatic drop in offensive efficiency on the road, posting a league-leading 123.8 rating at home but falling to just 114.4 away from Madison Square Garden. Charlotte arrives desperate to snap a brutal six-game losing streak after narrowly falling to Atlanta on the road. While ShotQuality data remains unavailable for both squads ahead of tipoff, the overall trajectory suggests a matchup where New York's offensive firepower tests Charlotte's leaky perimeter defense in a winner-advances scenario.