The Washington Wizards (27-37) and the Charlotte Hornets (29-35) face off at Spectrum Center. The Hornets are 4.5-point favorites and will attempt to put an end to a five-game home losing streak. The game’s Over/Under (O/U) has been set at 234 points and it will air on Fox Sports Carolina at 7 p.m. ET on Friday, March 8, 2019.
Washington Wizards at Charlotte Hornets ATS Odds
In the Wizards’ last matchup, they beat the Dallas Mavericks, 132-123, covering as 5-point favorites. The Hornets, on the other hand, were beaten by the Miami Heat, 91-84, and failed to cover as 3.5-point underdogs. The Washington game went 22.5 points over the projected point total of 232.5, while the Charlotte game finished 40 points under the projected point total of 215.
Washington played a nearly perfect game. They had a fantastic offensive rebounding percentage of 37.5 (above their season average of 20.3) and a free throw rate of 0.215 (above their season average of 0.202). For those same stats, Dallas put up marks of 29.2 and 0.194, respectively. Charlotte, on the other hand, had a better free throw rate (0.122 vs. 0.066). Cody Zeller played well for Charlotte with 10 points and 10 rebounds. Meanwhile, Bradley Beal had a solid performance for Washington, recording 30 points, eight assists and seven rebounds.
The Hornets evened the season series at one with a 123-110 win in their most recent contest. In the loss, Beal led all scorers on the team with 46 points. The Hornets’ 25.6 offensive rebounding percentage was their biggest advantage over the Wizards, who had a rate of 20.8. Charlotte covered as a 5-point favorite and the two teams combined to put up 233 points, which was just over the projected point total of 231.
Of the Wizards’ 64 games, 41 have gone over the total. Washington heads into the game with records of 27-37 straight up (SU) and 27-35-2 against the spread (ATS).
Similarly to Washington, games featuring the Hornets also have a tendency to go over the O/U total (56.3 percent). Additionally, Charlotte owns records of 29-35 SU and 29-33-2 ATS.
Ball protection could play an integral role in this contest. Charlotte commits the fewest miscues in the league (turnover percentage of 11.9 percent), while the pesky defense of Washington forces the fourth-most (opponents’ turnover percentage of 14.9 percent). Also, the elite offense of the Wizards ranks fifth in effective field goal percentage (0.535), while the Hornets are seventh-worst in the NBA at effective field goal percentage allowed (0.532).
Wizards vs. Hornets Pick
Free NBA Tip: SU Winner – Wizards, ATS Winner – Wizards, O/U – Over
Betting Notes:
- The Hornets rank 20th in rebounds allowed per game (45.4) while the Wizards rank 27th (47.3).
- Washington ranks fifth in blocks allowed per game (4.4) while Charlotte ranks 27th (6.2).
- The Wizards rank fourth in steals per game (8.6) while the Hornets rank 21st (7.2).
- Washington averages 33.6 three pointers per game, which ranks 10th in the NBA. Charlotte ranks 22nd in three pointers allowed per game (33.2).
- Charlotte ranks 17th in second chance points allowed per game (13.5) while Washington ranks 26th (14.4).
- The Wizards rank fifth in assists per game (26.7) while the Hornets rank 24th in assists allowed per game (25.7).
- The Hornets rank 16th in points allowed in the paint per game (49.3) while the Wizards rank 28th (51.6).
- Charlotte ranks first in points off turnovers allowed per game (14.1) while Washington ranks 19th (17.3).
- Washington is 8-0 when they allow less than 100 points, while Charlotte is 10-3.
- The Hornets are 28-24 when they reach 100 points, while the Wizards are 26-31.
- Charlotte is 16-16-2 ATS at home, while Washington is 9-24-1 ATS on the road.
- The Wizards have 20 overs and 14 unders in 34 road games.
- Of the Hornets’ 34 home games, they have 18 overs and 16 unders.
Bettings Trends:
- The Wizards are 3-2 ATS over their last five games, while the Hornets are 1-3-1.
- In their last five games, Washington has 4 overs and 1 under, while Charlotte has 3 overs and 2 unders.
- During their last five games, the Wizards have scored an average of 120.0 points per game (5.7 above their season average) and allowed an average of 117.2 points per game (0.2 above their season average).
- The Hornets’ average margin of defeat in their last five games has been 4.4, up from 0.6 for the season.
