Charlotte Hornets at New Orleans Pelicans

By Sam Batz

The Charlotte Hornets make their way down to the bayou to face the New Orleans Pelicans on Thursday, March 23rd (8:00 PM EST, Bally Sports/NBA League Pass). The Hornets have been eliminated from the playoffs but the Pelicans hold on to a thin string, which could pull them into the play-in tournament, but the odds are slim. Charlotte and New Orleans played their first and only matchup of the season back in October of 2022, which ended 112-124 in favor of the Pelicans, and now prepare for their final matchup of the season. Charlotte has struggled all year, while the Pelicans have been very hot-and-cold. For Thursday’s matchup, New Orleans is favored with the moneyline at -350 and the Hornets are the underdogs priced at +260.

Charlotte Hornets Breakdown (+260)

The Charlotte Hornets are scraping the bottom of the barrel at 23-50. Their win-rate of 31.5% is the second-worst percentage in the East, which makes sense, as they are currently 14th in the conference. Charlotte has missed the playoffs 6 consecutive seasons, and this year makes 7. The Hornets are in a postseason drought and were hoping that new recruits like LaMelo Ball, Kelly Oubre Jr., and Gordon Hayward would turn things around, but so far the process hasn’t taken hold. Charlotte is 3-7 in their last 10 games, but after getting blown-out by 39 points to the 76er’s last Friday, the Hornets turned it around with a 115-109 win over the Pacers, giving them some momentum coming into Thursday’s matchup with New Orleans. 

New Orleans Pelicans Breakdown (-350)

The Pelicans are currently on the outside looking in on the postseason with a 35-37 record. New Orleans is 12th in the West but are just half a game behind the Utah Jazz and the 10th seed. The Pelicans only real shot to make the playoffs is to make it into the play-in tournament and somehow fly past the competition into the postseason. In their last 10 games New Orleans went 5-5 but are coming off back-to-back wins, the first against the Rockets on Sunday, followed by the Spurs on Tuesday. The Pelicans are 24-12 (win-rate: 66.7%) all-time against the Hornets, and should feel confident that they can extend their winning streak against Charlotte. 

Hornets vs. Pelicans Odds

We are supported by Caesar Sportsbook. Click here to get up to $1,250 back as a bet credit on your first wager with Caesar.

Hornets vs. Pelicans: Season Stats

Hornets vs. Pelicans: Betting Trends

Hornets vs. Pelicans: Game Changers

Charlotte Hornets

• 21-year old Point Guard LaMelo Ball remains out for the season with an ankle injury, but recently told reporters he would be back to full health come September. 
• Other than Ball, the Hornets don’t have anyone listed on the injury report. 
• Gordon Hayward, Terry Rozier, and Kelly Oubre Jr. combined for 73 points in the Hornets win over the Pacers on Monday. 

New Orleans Pelicans

• Jose Alvarado and Zion Williamson are OUT but will each be re-evaluated in 2-3 weeks. However Williamson has been cleared for on-court activities. 
• Brandon Ingram went off for 32 points, 7 assists, and 4 rebounds on Tuesday against the Spurs and averaged 24.5 points per game in his last 5. 
• Big-man Jonas Valančiūnas  averaged 12.4 rebounds per game in his last 5 appearances, and went off for 30 points, 17 rebounds, and 4 assists the last time he faced Charlotte.

Hornets vs. Pelicans Prediction

Take New Orleans (-112) to cover the spread (-8). The Hornets are one of the worst teams in the league, and after losing LaMelo Ball to injury, are essentially tanking the season. The Pelicans can still make the play-in tournament, and with the West as close as it is, could even sneak into the playoffs as a top-8 seed, avoiding the play-in. New Orleans can’t afford to drop games against lowly opponents like Charlotte and will enter Thursday’s matchup ready to take care of business. The Pelicans will feed Jonas Valančiūnas all night because the Hornets don’t have anyone who can match his size, strength, and physicality, creating a tough matchup for the Hornets to overcome.

Prediction: New Orleans Pelicans (-112) cover the spread (-8) by the Under (225.5)

By clicking here you can see OSB’s amazing sports betting packages. There are monthly, weekly, and daily options which are designed to fit the needs of every sports betting enthusiast. 

Click here to visit OSB’s other blog posts where you can get expert advice on every game, team, and player, which will improve your chances at winning.