Washington Wizards vs
Charlotte HornetsPredictions & Preview

Washington Reckons with Hornets for Third Time This Month--Can They Take the Lead?

Washington, looking to snap their six game losing streak, faces off against Charlotte on Wednesday at the Spectrum Center. Tip-off is at 7:00 p.m. ET. This will be the second meeting for these teams this season, with Charlotte picking up a seven-point victory over Washington in the first matchup. Washington outshot Charlotte from the field, three-point range, and at the foul line, but was dominated on the glass, leading to the Hornets outscoring them in the paint. However, Washington picked up a 132-116 victory two days earlier. Injury Report: PG Delon Wright (knee) is out. PG Frank Ntilikina (leg), SF Cody Martin (knee), SG James Bouknight (knee), and PG Terry Rozier (groin) are out. C Nick Richards (concussion) is questionable. On Wednesday, Washington will face off against Charlotte Hornets at the Spectrum Center for the second time this season. Washington currently holds a 2-11 SU and 5-8 ATS record, while the Hornets stand at 4-9 SU and 6-7 ATS. Charlotte is the betting favorite opening at -3.5 with a 7:00 p.m. ET tip-off. The Hornets come into this matchup having snapped a four-game losing streak with a 121-118 victory over Boston, preceded by Washington’s sixth-straight loss, a 142-129 defeat to Milwaukee. In the previous matchup, Charlotte used offensive rebounds to their advantage, outscoring the Wiz 74-54 in the paint. Two days before though, Washington had managed to pick up a 132-116 victory over the Hornets. Injury Report: PG Delon Wright (knee) is out. PG Frank Ntilikina (leg), SF Cody Martin (knee), SG James Bouknight (knee), and PG Terry Rozier (groin) are out. C Nick Richards (concussion) is questionable.

Game Info

• When: Wednesday, 11/22/2023 @ 7:00pm EST
• Where: Spectrum Center Stadium

Betting Odds

• Moneyline: Wizards +145 | Hornets -175
• Spread: Wizards +3.5 (-110) | Hornets -3.5 (-110)
• Total: Over/Under 242.5 (-110)
• Based on the moneyline, the implied probability that Charlotte will win straight-up is 64%.

Washington vs Charlotte Stats

Washington Wizards

The Washington Wizards have a power ranking of 27th, with an 11th ranked offense averaging 114.08 points per game and 28th ranked defense allowing 122.92 points per game. They have a 5-8 against the spread (ATS) record. Offensively, they are shooting 47.64% from the field (10th), 76.31% from the free throw line (19th) and 35.14% from the three-pointer line (21st). They average 38.83 rebounds per game (30th) and 27.33 offensive assists. Defensively, they allow their opponents to shoot 49.69% from the field (27th), 77.15% from the free throw line (11th) and 35.55% from the three-pointer line (14th). Additionally, they average 50.33 defensive rebounds and 29.17 defensive assists.

Charlotte Hornets Analysis

The Charlotte Hornets had an impressive overtime win over the Boston Celtics earlier this week. Led by LaMelo Ball's 36 points, nine rebounds, and eight assists, SF Miles Bridges' three-pointer with 6.6 seconds left sealed the win. Gordon Hayward added 20 points and the Hornets made 16 of their 17 foul shots. Charlotte averages 113.7 points per game (13th) and shoots 47.0 percent from the field (16th). Defensively, their opponents score 122.2 points (27th) and shoot 49.1 percent from the field (27th), including 38.9 percent from deep (28th). The Hornets rank 23rd in schedule-adjusted offensive efficiency, 25th in adjusted defensive efficiency, and 9th in pace. This power ranking gives Charlotte the advantage over Boston.

Hornets and Wizards Take to the Court for Third Matchup of the Month: Can Charlotte Produce Another Cover?

The previous two matchups between Washington and Charlotte have seen the underdog cover, with Washington covering in the first and Charlotte in the second. Following their victory over Boston in a taxing overtime affair, I'm not convinced the Hornets will be able to produce another cover against Washington, whom they have already met twice this month. While Charlotte's offense should provide a challenge for the 30th-ranked Washington defense, their own defense is ranked 25th in efficiency. On the other hand, Washington's high-scoring offense, spearheaded by a 67.2% rim FG% (second highest in the league) makes them well-equipped to remain competitive this Wednesday.

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