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Hornets vs. Nets Preview: Odds, Lines, Predictions

By Evan Birchmore

CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA - MARCH 08: Bruce Brown #1 of the Brooklyn Nets guards Terry Rozier #3 of the Charlotte Hornets during their game at Spectrum Center on March 08, 2022 in Charlotte, North Carolina. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Jacob Kupferman/Getty Images)
CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA - MARCH 08: Bruce Brown #1 of the Brooklyn Nets guards Terry Rozier #3 of the Charlotte Hornets during their game at Spectrum Center on March 08, 2022 in Charlotte, North Carolina. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Jacob Kupferman/Getty Images) /
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The Charlotte Hornets visit the Brooklyn Nets on Sunday for a game with major postseason implications. Both squads are playing well, as Brooklyn has won seven of its last nine games while Charlotte has won six of its last seven games. With the season tiebreaker on the line and only one game separating them in the standings, both the Hornets and Nets will have every incentive to play their best basketball on Sunday night.

Keys to the Game

Limit Kyrie Irving

Limiting Kyrie Irving is far easier said than done. The seven-time All-Star is averaging 27.7 points across 21 appearances this season and went off for 50 points when Brooklyn visited Charlotte earlier this month. The key for Charlotte will be to make it more difficult for Irving to get his points this time around, as his 50 point performance came on 79% shooting and 75% from three-point range. Tonight will be Irving’s first home game of the season after New York City recently changed their vaccination requirements, adding an extra layer of intrigue to the matchup. If Charlotte can make it even slightly more difficult on Irving tonight, their chances of getting a win will increase drastically.

Force Brooklyn to shoot Threes

In their first matchup with the Nets this season,  Charlotte held Brooklyn to just 25.7% shooting from three, Brooklyn’s ninth-worst three point shooting performance of the season.  The Nets favor the midrange to the three-pointer when it comes to scoring, as they are tied for the third-fewest three point attempts per game. Meanwhile, they score the second-highest percentage of their points in the midrange of any team. Of Brooklyn’s three-pointers made, 23.3% are unassisted, the third-highest percentage in the league. While the Nets have the firepower to beat teams with isolation three-pointers, they prefer to share the basketball and get shots from the midrange. If Charlotte can force Brooklyn to take contested three-pointers, a poor shooting night from Brooklyn and a Charlotte victory could be the result.

Odds and Moneyline provided by FanDuel

Point Spread: Nets -7

Money line: Nets -295 / Hornets +240

Over-under: 239

Final Prediction

With Kyrie Irving now eligible for home games and the 8th seed potentially on the line, the Nets ride Irving’s stellar play as well as their home crowd to a victory. Charlotte is the seventh-best team against the spread this season, and that trend continues in a game where they will have every reason to play their best basketball.

As for the over-under, both teams feature high-powered offenses that can put up points in bunches. However, Brooklyn is coming off a game in Miami last night while Charlotte played a physical Utah team at home just two nights ago. The under will hit, Charlotte will cover, and Brooklyn will pick up the win.

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