Adam Williams presents his prediction for the NBA match.
Two clear bottom-dwellers in the Eastern Conference go head-to-head at the Spectrum Center as the Charlotte Hornets take on the Washington Wizards. Despite sitting higher in the standings with five more wins than their opponent, the Hornets’ struggles in head-to-head meetings with the Wizards suggest this will be far from straightforward.
Charlotte Hornets
The Charlotte Hornets have shown they can rise to the occasion against stronger opponents, making life difficult for top teams on home court. However, when facing sides of similar calibre, their performances have been woeful. Their recent outings against the Brooklyn Nets (83:104) and Portland Trail Blazers (97:102) are prime examples of their inconsistency. This season, they have been home favourites on three occasions but failed to cover the spread each time. To make matters worse, key players remain sidelined, with Vasilije Micić, Josh Okogie, and LaMelo Ball all still out.
Washington Wizards
The Washington Wizards pulled off a shock win last weekend, stunning the Minnesota Timberwolves on the road (105:103). Jordan Poole and Kyle Kuzma led the charge, combining for 50 points, while Malcolm Brogdon made a limited return after a month out. The veteran guard is the Wizards’ third-leading scorer and could play a crucial role in matchups against teams of the Hornets’ level.
Charlotte Hornets vs Washington Wizards Prediction
Strangely enough, the Washington Wizards have dominated this fixture in recent years, winning seven of the last ten encounters. When they have covered the spread, they have usually gone on to secure outright victories. Given their form in this matchup and the Hornets’ struggles, backing the visitors for a straight win looks like the best call.
