Depends on how you view it.
The optimist would say the Bobcats actually gained ground on the NBA Eastern Conference's eighth seed, going 3-2 on a West Coast trip to close the gap their deficit behind the Bucks to three games. The pessimist would remind you they have to pass three teams over the remaining 22 games to reach the playoffs for the first time.
They're now roughly even in home games to road games the rest of the way, but the margin for error is still small. The long western travel is over, but their last four games are away from Charlotte, so they'd have to make up most, if not all, of the gap by April Fool's Day to make a serious run.
BOBCATS 100, CLIPPERS 95: After some horrible offensive performances, Charlotte has been hot of late, making 47 percent or better from the field in the past four games. Much of this is about feeding the post. Center Emeka Okafor made 11 of 17 shots for 28 points Saturday, and the Bobcats won at Los Angeles.
