The Washington Wizards (10-33) are set to face off against the Charlotte Hornets (17-28) on Saturday at Spectrum Center in Charlotte, North Carolina, at noon ET. This matchup comes amid a challenging season for the Wizards, who are currently on an eight-game losing streak.
In their most recent outing, the Wizards fell to the Denver Nuggets with a score of 107-97, failing to cover the spread as 6-point home underdogs. Kyshawn George led the team with 20 points, contributing to a total of five Wizards scoring in double figures. Struggling with their performance, Washington holds a record of 2-6 against the spread (ATS) in their last eight games and displays a concerning 17-26 ATS for the season, one of the lower marks in the league.
Contrarily, the Hornets enjoyed a resounding victory against the Orlando Magic, defeating them 124-97 as 4-point road underdogs. Eight players contributed to the scoring, with forward Brandon Miller leading the way with 20 points. Charlotte’s recent form has them alternating between wins and losses, with a 4-4 record over their last eight games but a more favorable 26-19 ATS overall this season.
From a betting perspective, BetMGM Sportsbook has given the Wizards a moneyline of +375 and the Hornets -500. The spread sits at Hornets -10.5, with an over/under set at 233.5 points. Key injuries for the Wizards include Marvin Bagley III (out), Bilal Coulibaly (out), and several questionable players like Khris Middleton and Trae Young. For the Hornets, Ryan Kalkbrenner and Brandon Miller are probable to play.
Predictions have the Hornets prevailing over the Wizards with a predicted score of 128-112, indicating a final result that may reflect their recent dominance. Bet on the Hornets to cover the spread at -10.5, given their capacity to win by significant margins in recent games. Furthermore, consider betting over 233.5 points, as the Hornets have shown a knack for high-scoring games, reaching at least 124 points in four of their last five victories.
This matchup presents a crucial opportunity for the Hornets to build on their recent successes, while the Wizards will need to regroup and find a way to end their losing streak as they navigate the second half of the season.