Washington Wizards vs Charlotte Hornets Prediction, Preview, Injury Report, Odds, Team News and Schedule Mar 8th 2024

Two struggling teams will face off as the Washington Wizards (15th in the Eastern Conference) square off against the Charlotte Hornets (13th in the Eastern Conference). The Washington Wizards are without a win in their last 16 games, while the Charlotte Hornets are without a win in their last 5 games. Who will end the losing streak tonight? Our Washington Wizards vs Charlotte Hornets prediction is for the Hornets to win with +3.0 points in the handicap market. 

The Wizards are favourites with an implied probability of 60.2% to win this one at 1.66 odds, while the Hornets are available at 2.25 odds. The point spread is +/-3.0 points and the total points line is at 227.0.

The Washington Wizards will battle the Charlotte Hornets on Friday night at the Capital One Arena in Washington for a Southeast Division clash. For more NBA picks from Agbeniga Ayobami and other basketball experts, visit our Expert Insights section.

Washington Wizards vs Charlotte Hornets Prediction: The Bad the Worse and the Ugly 

• Selections: Hornets +3.0
• Odds: 1.90
• Bookmaker: Bet365
• Stake: 5/10

The Wizards have failed to record a win in their last 16 games over a month now and obviously, the home court doesn’t matter much when you consider the Wizards are 3-26 SU at home.

The Charlotte Hornets have shown far more life this season, and they’ve covered in 6 of their last 10 games. Additionally, the Hornets have won the last 2 games against the Wizards. So if asked to put my money on either struggling team, it will definitely be the Hornets without thinking twice. My Wizards vs Hornets prediction is for the Hornets to win with the 3.0 spread advantage.

Game Info

• Date: Saturday, March 9th, 2024
• Time: 01:00 (CET)
• Arena: Capital One Arena.
• Location: Washington, DC, USA.

Washington Wizards Injury Report, Team News, Schedule

It’s been a rough stretch for the Washington Wizards, who are currently mired in a 16-game losing streak, holding the worst overall record in the NBA. Tied with the Pistons with just nine wins on the season, the Wizards find themselves in last place due to their higher number of losses.

In their recent 119-109 home loss to the Magic, the Wizards were outscored by 22 points in the second half. Jordan Poole led the team with 26 points and five assists off the bench, while Kyle Kuzma contributed 25 points, five rebounds, and four assists. Despite the efforts of Deni Avdija, who added 14 points and seven rebounds, the Wizards fell to a disappointing 3-26 at home.

The Wizards continue to face injury woes, with Landry Shamet (calf), Marvin Bagley III (back), Patrick Baldwin Jr. (back), and Isaiah Livers (hip) still sidelined as they desperately seek their first win since January 29.

The Wizards hold a 28-33-1 record Against the Spread (ATS) this season, covering 45.9% of their games. They have struggled particularly at home, with a 9-20 ATS record, and have covered just 1 out of 3 games as favourites. However, they have managed to cover 53.8% of games against their Division rivals. 

Offensively, the Wizards average 114.5 points per game, ranking 15th in the league, with shooting percentages of 47.0% from the field and 35.1% from beyond the arc. They also maintain a respectable 76.6% free-throw shooting percentage. Defensively, they force an average of 13.9 turnovers per game and draw 19.8 fouls. However, they struggle mightily on the defensive end, conceding a league-worst 124.6 points per game. They allow opponents to shoot 50.2% from the field and 37.2% from beyond the arc.

Wizards Next 5 Games

• March 10th vs Heat
• March 13th vs Grizzlies
• March 15th vs Rockets
• March 17th vs Bulls
• March 17th vs Celtics

Charlotte Hornets Injury Report, Team News, Schedule

The Charlotte Hornets, currently ranked 13th in the Eastern Conference with a 15-47 record, faced yet another defeat in their recent game against the Orlando Magic, resulting in a 101-89 loss. Despite playing with a limited roster due to injuries, the Hornets managed to have four players score in double figures, led by G Vasilije Micic’s 21 points. However, they struggled with turnovers, committing 19, and were outrebounded 41-31. 

Looking ahead, Tre Mann is listed as questionable due to a left leg groyne strain, while Seth Curry, Mark Williams, Cody Martin, and LaMelo Ball are all likely to miss the upcoming clash due to injuries.

The Hornets hold a 25-37 record Against the Spread (ATS), with a 12-19 record ATS as an away team and a 25-33 record ATS as underdogs. Additionally, they have a 5-6 record against Southeast Division opponents.

Offensively, the Hornets average 107.3 points per game, ranking 29th in the league, with shooting percentages of 45.8% from the field and 35.9% from beyond the arc. They also maintain a respectable 78.7% free-throw shooting percentage. Defensively, they force an average of 13.9 turnovers per game and draw 18.7 fouls. However, they struggle with opponent field goal percentage, allowing 49.5%, and rebounding, surrendering 45.3 rebounds per game. Additionally, they allow opponents to shoot 38.2% from beyond the arc and concede an average of 117.7 points per game, ranking 21st in the league in points allowed.

Hornets Next 5 Games

• March 10th vs Nets
• March 12th vs Pistons
• March 14th vs Grizzlies
• March 16th vs  Suns
• March 17th vs 76ers

Betting Trends: Wizards Poor Performance at Capital One

• The Wizards are 28-33-1 ATS.
• The Hornets are 25-37 ATS.
• The Wizards have covered 31% (9-20) games played at their home arena.
• The Wizards are 7-6 ATS in Division Games.
• The Hornets are 12-19 ATS in away games.
• The Hornets are 25-33 ATS as underdogs.
• The Hornets have covered 45.5% of games against  Southeast Division Opponents.

Washington Wizards vs Charlotte Hornets H2H: Hornets Still in the Lead

The Washington Wizards and the Charlotte Hornets have faced each other 131 times in the regular season, with the Hornets holding a slight edge with 71 victories compared to the Wizards’ 60. The longest winning streak that the Wizards have enjoyed against the Hornets is 5 games, achieved on two separate occasions.

During the 2023-24 season, the Wizards and Hornets clashed in a total of 3 games, with the Wizards winning once and the Hornets emerging victorious twice. Their most recent encounter took place on Nov 22, 2023, resulting in a narrow 114-117 road loss for the Wizards against the Hornets.

LaMelo Ball has been a key player in matchups against the Wizards throughout his career, averaging 22.8 points, 7.2 assists, and 7.1 rebounds in 10 games. However, his availability for the upcoming match is uncertain, following an impressive performance where he recorded 34 points, 8 rebounds, and 13 assists in their last meeting.

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