The Charlotte Hornets‘ season is going differently than many had hoped. With so much young talent, Hornets fans had to hope this team would take a step forward. Last season the Hornets snuck into the NBA play-in tournament for the playoffs. While Charlotte lost its first game, it appeared the team was on the rise, and making the playoffs this year was within reach.
Charlotte has the second-worst record in the NBA. While Charlotte is 10 games out of 10th place for another shot at the play-in, so it is unlikely even to be a possibility. At this point, it is best for Charlotte to tank. The Hornets owe the Spurs a first-round pick, but it is protected top 16. With one of the most talented draft classes in recent memory coming up, Charlotte should make sure its first-round pick stays top 16, and hopefully, get lucky in the lottery to find another young star to pair with Lamelo Ball.
That said, here is what you need to know about the Hornets’ betting odds.
Charlotte Hornets Odds vs. Rockets on Jan. 18
It is a rare occurrence when Charlotte is favored in a game, as NBA betting lines in North Carolina have opened with Charlotte as a 1.5- to 2-point favorite against the Rockets. Houston is the only team in the NBA with a worse record than Charlotte. It is the 10th game all season in which the Hornets have been favored.
Regarding the matchup with Houston, the Rockets are in a similar boat as Charlotte and going through a tough season. The Rockets are 17-25-2 ATS this season. As a home underdog, the Rockets are 9-7-2 ATS.
This will be the first of two matchups with one another. The second time the two will play this season will be at Charlotte in the second-to-last game of the season for the Hornets on Apr. 7. That game may have more intrigue because if trends continue, that game could play large into who has the best odds for the NBA Draft Lottery and NBA Rookie of the Year Odds.
| Sportsbook | Spread | Moneyline | Total Points |
|---|---|---|---|
| DraftKings NC Sportsbook | Hornets -1.5 (-110) Rockets +1.5 (-110) | Hornets -130 Rockets +110 | Over 236.5 points (-110) Under 236.5 points (-110) |
| Caesars Sportsbook NC | Hornets -1.5 (-110) Rockets +1.5 (-110) | Hornets -130 Rockets +110 | Over 236.5 points (-110) Under 236.5 points (-110) |
| FanDuel NC Sportsbook | Hornets -2 (-112) Rockets +2 (-108) | Hornets -132 Rockets +112 | Over 237 points (-110) Under 237 points (-110) |
Going to the game?: Game Day Guide for the Spectrum Center in Charlotte
Hornets Betting Fast Facts
- Charlotte has lost its last five games and only covered the spread once in that span.
- Charlotte is 18-25-2 against the spread this season.
- In nine games in which the Hornets have been favored, they are 4-5 ATS and 4-5 straight up.
- The Hornets are 2-1 ATS as road favorites this season.
- Charlotte is a decent bet when a double-digit underdog. In 10 games this season in which the Hornets have been a 10-point underdog or greater, they have won straight up four times. If one had bet the same wager on all 10 of those games, that bettor would bet a net positive +782.
Will the Hornets be Making Trade Deadline Moves?
The trade deadline is Feb. 9. The Hornets are almost assuredly going to be sellers at the deadline. As mentioned, it is a deep draft class, and getting extra picks is always a good idea for a team trying to rebuild. Lamelo Ball is untouchable for Charlotte, but for every other player on their roster, the Hornets would at least listen to the offers coming in.
The obvious players to look at first are Terry Rozier and Kelly Oubre Jr. Both are averaging more than 20 points per game and are solid veterans. Title-contending teams may be willing to pay a reasonable price for both of these guys. At the same time, older veterans like Mason Plumlee and Gordon Hayward could also be of interest.
Hayward’s contract is an issue, but it is in the second-to-last year. Pairing him in a trade with Oubre or Rozier may be enough for a team to take him without giving up high draft capital. Not only that, Hayward still provides solid value as a player.
PJ Washington is another name that could come up, but he is a young player that has steadily improved each season and may be more likely to get a contract extension. Although, if Charlotte feels he will want too much money or is not interested in giving him an extension, he could have good value as an expiring contract, who can play on the wing or as a stretch four and knock down 3-pointers.
Charlotte Hornets Upcoming Games
Here are the Hornets’ upcoming games.
- @Houston — Wednesday, Jan. 18
- @Atlanta — Saturday, Jan. 21
- @Utah — Monday, Jan. 23
- @Phoenix — Tuesday, Jan. 24
- vs. Chicago — Thursday, Jan. 26
- vs. Miami — Sunday, Jan. 29
- @Milwaukee — Tuesday, Jan. 31
AP Photo/Scott Kinser
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