Two young teams are taking each other on for the first time in months when the Charlotte Hornets (25-51, 34-39-3 ATS) suit up in Paycom Center to take on the Oklahoma City Thunder (37-38, 43-29-3 ATS). In late December, the Hornets beat the Thunder 121-113 in Charlotte, beating the spread in the process. OKC is having the better season though and certainly needs a win more than Charlotte. At 8:00 p.m. EST, the game will tip off, and we'll see which side will earn a victory late in the season.
On Friday night, the Charlotte Hornets pulled off one of the most shocking upsets of the season when they beat the Dallas Mavericks on the road. As an encore, the Hornets went home on Sunday afternoon and beat the Mavericks again, 110-104 this time. Racing out to an 18-point lead in the first quarter, finishing +21 on the boards, and limiting Dallas to 38.1% shooting from the field were all instrumental parts of securing the win. Mark Williams' 15-point, 16-rebound double-double led the way in the victory.
Love to see it ?? @MarkWi1liams | @drpepper | @HornetsOnBally pic.twitter.com/NIehlNodVT
— Charlotte Hornets (@hornets) March 26, 2023
Despite playing extremely shorthanded lately, without LaMelo Ball, Terry Rozier, and Kelly Oubre Jr. among others, Charlotte has managed to win three of their last four. Still, the Hornets are one of the two Eastern Conference teams eliminated from the postseason already. This hasn't been a season that's gone their way.
LaMelo Ball only playing in 36 games is probably the biggest culprit, as their offense is dead last in offensive rating as a result. They're bottom-five in shooting efficiency at every level, leading to their 30th-rated effective field goal percentage. It's really difficult to win in the NBA if you can't find the bottom of the net.
Defensively, Charlotte's more capable, although they're only 20th in defensive rating. They excel at forcing misses at the rim, holding opponents to 60.9% on shots within five feet of the hoop, the sixth-best mark in the NBA. In most other aspects t hey're roughly middle of the pack.
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