Hornets vs Trail Blazers Picks and Predictions: Blazers Send Hornets Back to Reality

The Charlotte Hornets and Portland Trail Blazers meet Monday evening at the Moda Center in Portland. It’s the second and final meeting of the regular season between these two teams.

The Blazers picked up a 105-95 victory in the Queen City on November 9 as 1.5-point favorites as the Under comfortably hit in that first meeting.

Portland shot a robust 53% in the first meeting in Charlotte, including 11 threes. It might have really blown out the Hornets, but the Blazers shot a dismal 56% from the free-throw line. Portland also turned it over 17 times, but still won by double digits.

The Hornets picked up victories in two of the past three games, including a high-scoring 134-130 win against the Los Angeles Lakers prior to Christmas. Charlotte is 3-1 ATS on the trip so far, with the Over cashing in each of the last three.

Can the Hornets keep competing and covering the spread, or will the Trail Blazers complete the season sweep with another resounding win? Read our NBA picks and predictions below to find out.

Hornets vs Trail Blazers best odds

Hornets vs Trail Blazers picks and predictions

The Charlotte Hornets have yet to reach a double-digit win total on the season through 33 games, but lately, Charlotte has at least been pesky and competitive. It picked up a 134-130 win against the Lakers at Crypto.com Arena on Friday, and it won outright as a 10-point underdog in Sacramento on December 19 in the second game of the trip.

The Hornets were on point against the Lakers, hitting at a 55% (52-of-94) clip from the field, including a solid 39% (16-of-41) from behind the 3-point line. Both of those numbers are well ahead of the team’s 44.7% mark from the field, which is good for 29th in the NBA, while Charlotte hits just 32.6% from downtown, dead-last in the association.

The Portland Trail Blazers have dropped three in a row, while also going 0-3 ATS during the skid. Portland will be glad to be home, however, after a six-game, nine-day road trip through the Western Conference. At home, the Blazers have won three of the past four, while covering each of the outings.

Portland will likely be without Justise Winslow (ankle) for this one, but he comes off the bench and shouldn’t make a giant difference. The team has been skidding, but they’re back home and there is no reason the Blazers can’t repeat the same type of performance they had in Charlotte earlier in the season.

I am actually surprised that this line isn’t a little higher, and bettors get to benefit from the Hornets covering lately, and NBA odds adjusting the line down because of Portland’s 3-game slide. Take advantage. Portland covers and will do so handily. 

My best bet: Trail Blazers -6 (-110 at FanDuel)

Hornets vs Trail Blazers spread analysis

These teams last met in Portland on December 17, 2021, with the Blazers coming away with a 125-116 win and cover with the Over also hitting. In fact, Portland has won the past five home games against Charlotte, while covering four of those outings dating back to February 8, 2018.

While the Hornets have been very competitive lately, and they’re 9-4-1 ATS in the past 14 road games against teams with a winning home record, Charlotte is also a dismal 1-5 ATS in the past six following a straight-up win.

The Trail Blazers have covered four in a row while going 8-3 ATS in the past 11 meetings in this series, and 13-3 ATS in the past 16 at home against the Hornets.

Portland is so-so on offense, managing 112.0 ppg to rank No. 18, but it's an amazing 38.5% from behind the arc, which is third in the league. That will be a key stat here, as Charlotte allows the opposition to hit treys at a 36.4% clip, ranking in the bottom third of the league defensively.

Hornets vs Trail Blazers Over/Under analysis

The Hornets are rested, and that’s usually a great sign for an Over result. In fact, the Hornets have cashed the Over in 10 of the past 11 games when playing on two days of rest.

Charlotte has cashed the Over at a 19-7 clip in the past 26 games on the road, while going an impressive 13-3 in the past 16 road games against teams with a winning overall record, too.

The trends are a little more mixed for the Blazers, with the Under going 14-3 in the past 17 at home against teams with a losing road record. The Over is 5-1 in the past six home games overall, however, and 15-6-1 in the past 22 games when working on two days of rest.

And in this series lately, it’s all about the Over, cashing at a 5-2-1 clip in the previous eight meetings, while going 3-0-1 in the past four games in Portland.

I love the Blazers laying the three buckets coupled with the Over here for a nice parlay opportunity on Boxing Day.

Hornets vs Trail Blazers betting trend to know

The Hornets are just 3-8 ATS in the past 11 meetings with the Trail Blazers, and a dismal 3-13 ATS in the previous 16 trips to Portland. Find more NBA betting trends for Hornets vs. Trail Blazers.

Hornets vs Trail Blazers game info

Hornets vs Trail Blazers key injuries

Pages related to this topic