Lakers, Hornets meet, each with an eye toward 2024

(Photo credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports)
A pair of teams anxious to move on to a new calendar year will meet Thursday when the Los Angeles Lakers play host to the Charlotte Hornets.

The Lakers enter the contest with six defeats in their past eight games, while the Hornets take the court on a season-long eight-game losing streak.

LosAngeles, at least, started the month of December on a high note when it knocked o