The Charlotte Hornets have endured a mixed start to the season and will arrive to their clash against the Detroit Pistons with a 3-4 record. However, the impending returns of the likes of new arrival Coby White and young phenom Kon Knueppel are bound to be a major boost.

Unfortunately, only one of them will be available to play against Detroit, per ClutchPoints' Brett Siegel. While White is now ready to make his season debut, Knueppel remains sidelined for the game but is nearing a return as well.

White suffered a left calf strain in training camp while Knueppel suffered a left hamstring strain during an offseason workout in September, and has been listed as day-to-day for recent games. Knueppel has been assigned to the Greensboro Swarm for practice, and despite being close to a return, it is not yet known when it might happen. White, meanwhile, is likely to play under a minutes restriction against Detroit.

Regardless, Knueppel is not the only injury concern for this game. Grant Williams is still dealing with a hamstring issue and will not be available for this game. Charlotte has been impressive on defence in the seven games thus far, posting a 109.7 defensive rating, which puts them 11th in the NBA.

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However, it is the offense that needs help. Brandon Miller has been a bright spot, but the absence of two of the team's leading contributors has increased the burden on him, with the 24-year-old currently taking a whopping 23.1 attempts per game.

Still, Charlotte has remained competitive despite missing two of their best players, and will want to continue in that vein for the time being. At the same time, the Pistons represent a major challenge and arrive to this game with one of the best records in the league (5-1).