With the NBA postseason closing in, teams across the league are making their push for the playoffs. Some have been luckier than others, as teams like the Brooklyn Nets and Portland Trail Blazers are getting healthier at the right time. However, for the Charlotte Hornets, they're trending in the wrong direction.

Luckily for them, they are currently ranked fourth in the Eastern Conference with a 25-23 record. Rookie phenom LaMelo Ball had recently been sidelined with an injury, and now small forward Gordon Hayward will be missing crucial playing time as well, per Marc Stein.

The Charlotte Hornets have been exciting, to say the least, this year, especially while Ball was still healthy and playing. Now with Hayward sidelined as well, the Hornets' season may be crashing down from within.

Four weeks isn't the end of the world though, as that puts Hayward's return in early May. The final game of the regular season for the Hornets is on May 16th against the Washington Wizards. Charlotte will just have to survive without Hayward until his return, as they're sitting in a good spot for playoff position.

This year's playoff race is going to come down to the wire, especially after the trades we witnessed right before the trade deadline. Look for the Miami Heat, Boston Celtics, and Chicago Bulls to potentially rise in the rankings. Each of those organizations made aggressive moves before the trade deadline, vastly improving their rosters this season.

Catch the Charlotte Hornets' next game on Boston Celtics on Sunday, as this is a matchup that will feel like a playoff game.