Consistency has been tough to come by for the Washington Wizards, but they’re hoping to bounce back against the Charlotte Hornets.
Bradley Beal is the primary driving force for the Wizards, but Charlotte’s LaMelo Ball and Miles Bridges will prove tough customers.
The sportsbook is finding it tough to split them, but the Wizards hold a one-point advantage.
- Game: Charlotte Hornets (19-18) at Washington Wizards (18-18)
- Location: Capital One Arena
- Day/Time: Monday, 7 p.m. ET
- TV: NBC
Charlotte Hornets vs Washington Wizards
Hornets on Hot Streak
Winning three consecutive games doesn’t happen all too often for the Charlotte Hornets. Recent wins over Denver, Houston and Indiana have pushed their record above .500.
Two of the wins came on the road, including a 116-108 victory against the Pacers. They kept up their NBA second-best offense, which averages 114.7 points.
Terry Rozier had a game-high 35 points, and if he’s anywhere near that level against the Wizards, they should secure the win.
“The game is all about runs, and it’s just all about how you respond, and I thought we responded well,” Rozier told ESPN. “We made some big shots down the stretch, took care of the ball, and that was the most important part.”
Eliminating turnovers is key to their success, especially when ranking 25th in offensive rebounds and 29th in defensive rebounds. Taking care of the ball and getting quality shots is imperative.
They have scored 115 points or more in their last three wins, so the offense is firing on all cylinders. They don’t have too many injury problems, unlike the Wizards, so that could make a difference.
NBA betting odds have the Hornets at +2. The line could move in their favor on game day, but they have been the favorite in only one of their last 10 games.
Wizards Mindset
It’s hard to know the mindset of the Washington Wizards. They were one of two teams to be victimized DeMar DeRozan last week, so it could be tough to recover.
The Wizards were dealt a tough 120-119 loss against the Chicago Bulls when DeRozan put up an unlikely game-winning shot. The loss saw the Wizards drop to 18-18, but they have been solid at Capital One Arena.
Boasting a 9-6 home record, including a win over the Cleveland Cavaliers, the Wizards should look to build on a recent spate of home games. There are no easy games in the NBA, so Beal and Kyle Kuzma need to start putting in the hard yards.
Beal’s production rate has slipped to 23.6 points per game, which isn’t always a bad thing. However, his teammates need to pick up the slack.
Scoring 106.5 points as a team and allowing 108.8 doesn’t make for good viewing. That statistic needs to change, but betting online markets are respecting them against the Hornets.
The Wizards are taking quality shots as they rank sixth in field goal percentage at 46.7. The trouble has been from behind the three-point line, so the long ball will need to start dropping.
Value with Hornets
Bettors never know what to expect from the Wizards, so we’re taking the team with recent form on the board.
We are loving what the Hornets have produced over the last week, and with their offense producing the goods, the Wizards will need to shoot lights out.
Backing the Hornets on the road can be dangerous, but recent wins over the Pacers and Nuggets bode well.
