One of the NBA's best defences faces the weakest offence in the regular season. The Charlotte Hornets do not look ready to compete with the Detroit Pistons, but home support could be a significant factor in the Hornets' favour against the Pistons.
Charlotte Hornets
The Charlotte Hornets head into this meeting with one of the Eastern Conference leaders on a three-game losing streak. That run began with an away defeat to the Detroit Pistons (89:97), who expertly stifled the Hornets' offence. Charlotte are struggling to cope with the pressure amid a string of injuries — Boswell, Kon Knueppel, White and Williams remain sidelined. Without them, the Hornets have the league's weakest offence, averaging 98.3 points per game.
Detroit Pistons
A win over the Charlotte Hornets would take the Detroit Pistons above Boston and joint top of the Eastern Conference with the Philadelphia 76ers, both with a 6-1 record. After beating Charlotte, the Pistons began their road trip with a convincing win over the Brooklyn Nets (110:94). Detroit once again look excellent defensively, conceding an average of 101.8 points per game.
Charlotte Hornets vs Detroit Pistons Prediction
The Detroit Pistons' defence has barely suffered in the absence of the injured Jalen Duren. On the Charlotte Hornets' home court, the Pistons will dictate the game and prevent the Hornets from building any scoring momentum.
