Hornets vs. Pelicans Preview: Odds, Lines, Predictions

The Charlotte Hornets are on a real hot streak at the moment. Winners of their last four games, the Swarm are set to take on the New Orleans Pelicans on Monday, March 21. This game will be the midway point of the Hornets’ five-game home stand.

Considering their current winning streak started off with a thrashing of the Pelicans in New Orleans, Charlotte should be feeling pretty confident heading into this one. Although Pelicans’ star shooting guard CJ McCollum did not play in their first matchup, he is active for this tilt in Charlotte.

Keys to the Game

The backcourt needs to expose the opposition. LaMelo Ball and Terry Rozier have been playing sublime since the All-Star break. Ball is orchestrating the offense to perfection, and Rozier is the beneficiary of wide-open shots. Against the subpar defensive duo of McCollum and Devonte’ Graham, the Hornets’ guards need to expose the Pelicans’ defense early and set up easy shots for their teammates.

Don’t be afraid to chop down the trees. Jonas Valanciunas, Jaxson Hayes, and Herbert Jones make up the Pelicans’ front court. Each of these players are long, rebound well, and play elite defense. Despite that, the Pels rank 21st in defensive rebounding, 27th in blocked shots, and 20th in fouls. By attacking the bigs and kicking out for wide-open shots, the Hornets should find success on the offensive side of the floor all night long.

Odds and Moneyline provided by BetUS 

Point spread: Hornets -6

Money line: Pelicans +200 / Hornets -240

Over-under: 233.5

The Hornets have been surging on the offensive side of the ball recently. Over their four-game winning streak, the Swarm are averaging 130.3 points per game. The over has been the safe bet nearly all season, and it seems like the safest bet in this one as well. The point spread feels a little low. The Pels are in no rush to win games, and the Hornets offensive prowess should show itself from the tip.

Final Prediction

The Hornets win comfortably, 124-112. Ball and Rozier carry the workload offensively, and the athletic pairing of Miles Bridges and P.J. Washington slow down the Pelicans enough to secure the Swarm’s fifth straight win.