The Charlotte Hornets (6-15, 3-6 Home) will try to overcome one of the NBA’s top shooting defenses when they welcome the Washington Wizards (11-11, 3-7 Away) on Friday. Washington was defeated by the Brooklyn Nets 113-107 at Barclays Center on Wednesday, their fourth straight loss away from home.
Kristaps Porzingis was a top performer in the losing effort with 27 points and 19 rebounds. The Wizards are seventh in the Eastern Conference. Charlotte lost in blowout fashion on Monday at TD Garden, falling to the Boston Celtics 140-105. Jalen McDaniels had 24 points to lead the team in scoring in defeat.
With 22 points, Kelly Oubre Jr. also had a strong game. The Hornets are 13th in the Eastern Conference. The teams are meeting for the final time this season. After taking both of the prior season meetings against Charlotte, the most recent of which was a 106-102 victory at Capital One Arena on November 20, Washington will be pursuing a season sweep.
Kyle Kuzma led the Wizards with 28 points, 10 rebounds, and five assists. Oubre Jr. had 23 points and seven rebounds in defeat. Bradley Beal (23.6 ppg), Porzingis (21.6), and Kuzma (20.6) have led the Wizards in scoring this season. Beal leads the league in scoring. Porzingis also has grabbed 8.7 rebounds per game, most in the NBA, while Beal has dished 5.6 assists per game, most in the league.
Oubre Jr. (19.7 ppg) has supplied much of the Hornets’ offense. He is the top scorer in the league. Mason Plumlee is posting 8.9 rebounds per game, most in the league, and Dennis Smith Jr. is recording 5.7 assists (1st).Foes are shooting 45.3% from the field against the Wizards, ranking as one of the NBA’s stingiest FG% defenses (4th).
The Wizards have struggled in recent trips to Spectrum Center, losing nine of the last 10.Washington is 5-5 in the last 10 games with an average margin of +1.2 (113.8-112.6). Charlotte has gone 3-7 over the last 10, allowing 117.1 points per game on average while scoring only 109.3 (-7.8 margin).
WIZARDS HOT/COLD
(Last Five | Season Average | Differential)
Points per game:
Kyle Kuzma: 27.3 | 20.6 | +6.6
HORNETS HOT/COLD
(Last Five | Season Average | Differential)
Points + Rebounds + Assists:
Dennis Smith Jr.: 7.5 | 18.3 | -10.8
Rebounds per game:
Nick Richards: 9.4 | 6.7 | +2.7
Assists per game:
Dennis Smith Jr.: 2.5 | 5.7 | -3.2
SportsTips’ NBA Pick:
Washington Wizards (-150)
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*Odds correct at time of publication, courtesy of BetMGM.
