The Charlotte Hornets, having been eliminated from the Emirates NBA Cup without a single win in their group play, are adjusting to a new reality and schedule heading into the remainder of the regular NBA season. According to QC News, the Hornets posted a 0-4 record in the new in-season tournament, culminating in a disappointing -33-point differential.

With the NBA stepping in to ensure all teams reach an 82-game schedule, the Hornets now look to regroup and focus on their upcoming matchups against the Chicago Bulls on December 13 and the Philadelphia 76ers on December 16, as reported by NBA.com. These games will be critical for Charlotte to salvage their season, which has been marred by their inability to make a mark in the NBA Cup, where they almost won against teams like the New York Knicks and the Brooklyn Nets, but almost doesn't count in basketball or any sport for that matter.

In their last outing against Philadelphia, the Hornets showed some signs of life, with Brandon Miller putting up 34 points, his second-most in a game this season, yet it wasn't enough to avoid a 110-104 defeat, as QC News highlights. This continual pattern of "so near yet so far" performances has added pressure on the team to improve their standing in what has been an underwhelming season so far.

Meanwhile, bracket play for the Emirates NBA Cup is gearing up without the Hornets, as the Thunder prepare to face the Mavericks and the Rockets are set to clash with the Warriors among other first-round matchups; these games, except for the finals, will count toward the teams' regular season records, as Sports Illustrated reports.