Hornets vs. Pelicans prediction and odds for Thursday, March 23
By Josh Yourish
Don’t worry everybody, Zion Williamson will be re-evaluated in two weeks, so I’m sure when that time comes he’ll be ready to play and definitely won’t have another setback that leaves him in the sidelines for the rest of the season and postseason if the New Orleans Pelicans somehow make it there.
New Orleans is 12th in the Western Conference, but at 35-37 it is just one game behind seventh and only two games behind Golden State in sixth. A lot can change in the West and the good news for the Pelicans is that they get to play the Charlotte Hornets tonight.
Charlotte is 23-50 and 14th in the Eastern Conference, so the Pelicans should be able to win this one at home. They’re certainly the favorites tonight.
Hornets vs. Pelicans odds, spread and total
Hornets vs. Pelicans prediction and pick
The Pelicans have gotten a gift in terms of their schedule lately. They had two against Houston before facing San Antonio and now tonight against Charlotte.
Despite the favorable schedule, they split with Houston and are 2-1 through that stretch where they needed to go 3-0. However, if they can win tonight then it was a productive four-game stretch against some of the very worst teams in the NBA.
In March, the Hornets have the worst net rating of any team in basketball at -9.5 and they’ve accomplished that while being No. 7 in defensive rating over that stretch. That’s how abysmal their offense has been with a league worst, 103.1 rating.
They are last in effective field goal and true shooting percentage over that stretch.
In March, the Hornets leading scorer is Kelly Oubre Jr. who’s averaging 24.1 points per game. That’s just a disaster of team building, and a team you do not want to watch play.
The Pelicans have been a massive disappointment this season, but at least they have Brandon Ingram and CJ McCollum to run things.
The under is 4-0 in Charlotte’s last four road games, so I’ll take the under with its strong defense and abysmal offense this month.
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