The Charlotte Hornets will head to the nations capital to take on the Washington Wizards on Sunday afternoon. It’s time to continue our NBA odds series and make a Hornets-Wizards prediction and pick.
We have another “playoff scenario” as these two clubs have already clinched their respective play-in births and now have a crucial battle for seeding on the line. The winner of this game will secure the eighth seed in the east and a date with the Boston Celtics in the play-in. The winner of this game will be in a win-and-in situation while the loser will have to win two straight to survive.
Here’s how sportsbooks have set the opening Hornets-Wizards odds.
NBA Odds: Hornets-Wizards Odds
Charlotte Hornets +6 (-113)
Washington Wizards -6 (-107)
Over 228 Points (-110)
Under 228 Points (-110)
Why The Hornets Could Cover The Spread
The Charlotte Hornets must find a way out of this rut that they're currently in as the end of the season is upon us and a play-in game is on deck. With the way that Charlotte has struggled lately, you know they'll be motivated to get a win and enter as the eighth seed. Being in a win-and-in situation with room for error is a much more enticing position to be in for a team that has lost five of its last six games to date. The Hornets did show some good signs in the overtime loss to the Knicks yesterday.
Miles Bridges is back in action for the Hornets and returned with a bang, dropping 30 points on 12 of 21 shooting off the bench. Devonte' Graham dropped 25 of his own and dished out eight assists in a solid outing off the bench as well. The issue that this team must try to solve quickly is their lack of three-point shooting down the roster. Charlotte shot just 13 of 49 from beyond the arc in the recent loss. LaMelo Ball has to be the guy to create high percentage looks for his club if they want to compete with the Wizards strong offensive output.
Why The Wizards Could Cover The Spread
The Washington Wizards have soared out of the gutter over the past few months. Washington has won three of their past five games and will look to build on an impressive 15-point win against the Cavs on Friday. Many thought that the Wizards would struggle without Bradley Beal on the court, but that has not been the case. Russell Westbrook keeps proving everyone wrong and showing why he is still one of the best point guards in all of basketball. Westbrook is a certified walking triple-double.
He delivered yet another triple-double to his impressive campaign in the recent win. Russ led the way with 21 points, 12 boards, and 17 assists, which seems to be his consistent stat line night in and night out at this point. He pushes the pace and does a tremendous job of driving to the hole and creating good looks for his guys. Washington plays some of the fastest basketball in the league, which is especially difficult to contain when guys like Davis Bertans are hitting consistently from the outside.
Final Hornets-Wizards Prediction & Pick
I see great value in this total. I'm very surprised to see the total set at under 230 points with the way that Washington has played on the offensive end of the floor. Their lack of defensive effort can sometimes be alarming as well, which benefits us in this spot, too. Both teams have been playing over basketball fairly consistently lately and the over has hit in nine of these teams last 12 head-to-head games coming in.
FINAL PICK: Over 228 (-110)
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