The Brooklyn Nets (25-29) are at Spectrum Center for a Saturday night meeting with the Charlotte Hornets (19-36). Tip-off will be at 7 p.m. ET. We analyze the Hornets-Nets odds and lines, with NBA betting advice and tips around the matchup.
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Nets at Hornets: Key injuries
Nets
- PG Kyrie Irving (shoulder) out
- SF Kevin Durant (Achilles) out
Nets at Hornets: Odds, lines, picks and betting tips
NBA odds courtesy of BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports for a full list. Odds last updated at 12:30 p.m. ET.
Prediction
Nets 107, Hornets 98
Moneyline (ML)
Brooklyn (-176) was playing well before the All-Star break but lost an overtime game against the Philadelphia 76ers, 112-104, Feb. 20. Charlotte (+145) is on a three-game winning streak and beat the Chicago Bulls, 103-93, Thursday. The Nets are 2-1 in the season series against the Hornets but lost the last contest 113-108 Dec. 11.
The main factor in this game is Brooklyn’s above-average defense going against the bottom-dwelling Charlotte offense. The Nets are ranked fifth in opponent field-goal percentage and sixth in opponent 3-point percentage. They are going against a Hornets offense last in the NBA in points per game, 28th in field-goal percentage and 22nd in 3-point percentage. Also, Charlotte is 12-17 with a minus-7 point average margin of victory when playing an opponent on equal rest compared to Brooklyn’s 15-14 record in the same situation.
PASS ON THE MONEYLINE because the -176 odds are too pricey for the Nets in the regular season, even though the Hornets should lose.
Line/Against the Spread (ATS)
Charlotte (+3.5, -106) has won three straight against the spread so maybe that’s influencing the line here. Despite it going to overtime, the NETS (-3.5, -115) technically did lose ATS making them ATS winners in five of their last six games so I’m noting it as a bad beat. Brooklyn has owned Charlotte in recent years and the trends back it up. The Nets are 9-2 ATS in the last 11 meetings in Charlotte and are 11-5 ATS in the last 16 overall meetings.
BET THE NETS (-3.5, -115).
Over/Under (O/U)
For as crummy as the Charlotte offense is, Brooklyn isn’t much better. The Nets rank 19th in PPG, 24th in FG% and 25th in 3-point percentage, and the Hornets defense is mostly average. The 210.5 is a tough total so I’m only LEANING TOWARD THE UNDER 210.5 (-106) because the Under is 5-2 in the last seven meetings in Charlotte and the combined Over/Under record of the two teams in games with one rest day is 30-36-1.
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