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The Charlotte Hornets will take on the Sacramento Kings on Friday night. It's time to continue our NBA odds series and make a Hornets-Kings prediction and pick.
The Hornets have looked like one of the better teams in the Eastern Conference to start off the season. Their 4-4 record doesn't seem like much, but a closer look at their games tells a more accurate story. Charlotte owns a couple of quality wins over the Brooklyn Nets and the Portland Trail Blazers, and their losses aren't too bad, either. The Kings are actually in a very similar situation to the Hornets in terms of the games they've played, as Sacramento is also sitting at 4-4 with some impressive wins to their name. This should be a high-paced, entertaining matchup, so let's get into the pick.
Here's how the bookmakers have set the Hornets-Kings lines.
NBA Odds: Hornets-Kings Odds
Charlotte Hornets: +2 (-108)
Sacramento Kings: -2 (-112)
Over: 231 (-110)
Under: 231 (-110)
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Why The Hornets Can Cover The Spread
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Charlotte has already proven itself to be a solid team. It's fair to say that they are the more talented team coming into this game, especially on the offensive end. The Hornets have been one of the best offensive units in basketball, as they lead the NBA in points per game with 114 per contest. Charlotte also leads the league in three-point percentage, shooting the deep ball at a 39.6% clip on the year. This offense is difficult to stop for anyone, and the Kings should have even more trouble than most in this one.
Sacramento may be 4-4, but those wins certainly didn't come because of their defensive prowess. The Kings currently allow the fourth-most points per game in the NBA. They've only held one opponent under the triple-digit mark on the season while also allowing huge scoring nights to the Utah Jazz, Golden State Warriors and Trail Blazers. This Hornets offense is more prolific than all three of the above units, so it's likely that Charlotte pours on the offense here.
Why The Kings Can Cover The Spread
The Hornets may be the more talented team, but the Kings have the advantage of health here. Star point guard LaMelo Ball is questionable for this matchup along with starting forward PJ Washington. Both of these players fill key roles on offense and defense for Charlotte, so their absences would be a huge blow to the Hornets. Sacramento doesn't have a single player listed on its injury report, so should be good to go.
While the Hornets do have a league-leading offense, they literally have the exact opposite when it comes to defense. Charlotte ranks dead last in the league in opponent points per game, as they allow nearly as much as they average on offense. It's fair to say that the Hornets have been horrible on defense, and that won't play well against an above-average Kings offense. Sacramento ranks just above the middle of the pack in points per game, shooting percentage, and overall offensive efficiency. This is not a good matchup for the Charlotte defense at all.
Final Hornets-Kings Prediction & Pick
This is a tough choice because of the uncertainty surrounding the Hornets. If Ball and Washington are active, the line will jump to favor Charlotte. Instead of dealing with that volatility, take the over. It will fall accordingly if Ball is inactive, and should be broken if he is active.
FINAL HORNETS-KINGS PICK: OVER 231 (-110)
