The Portland Trail Blazers are playing a bit too well to be in the thick of the Cooper Flagg sweepstakes, but the Charlotte Hornets are very much mired in that race to the bottom of the NBA. That said, it should always be remembered that players and coaches do not tank; front offices do.
On the surface, Brandon Miller’s season-ending surgery may help LaMelo Ball eclipse tonight's points prop, but my Trail Blazers vs. Hornets predictions are fading the point guard's O/U.
Trail Blazers vs Hornets prediction
My best bet
LaMelo Ball Under 31.5 points (-115 at bet365)
My analysis
Perhaps an argument could be made that LaMelo Ball will come out tonight with a chip on his shoulder after Thursday’s release of All-Star voting results. No guard in the Eastern Conference received more fan votes than Ball did, yet he will not be an All-Star starter because he was third in player voting and seventh in media ballots.
But is that argument strong enough to justify this lofty points prop? Clearly, I think not.
In seven games back from his most recent injury, Ball has averaged 25.6 points, falling short of this lofty points prop in all but one of them.
That is where the bad news of Brandon Miller’s wrist injury looms. Far from the deepest roster, losing Miller simply means the Charlotte Hornets’ opponents can focus that much more on Ball.
In 20 games with Miller this season, Ball has averaged 30 points per game. In nine games without Miller, Ball’s average falls to 26.6 ppg. He takes three fewer shots per game (21.9 field-goal attempts from 24.9) and makes less of them (40.6% from 42.4%).
This is all logical. Who else are the Portland Trail Blazers going to worry about tonight? As well as Mark Williams has been playing of late, rare is the defender that overlaps between the center and Ball.
Trail Blazers vs Hornets same-game parlay
LaMelo Ball Under 31.5 assists
LaMelo Ball Over 8.5 assists
Hornets moneyline
Let’s take Ball’s assists prop Over as a nod to Williams’s success of late, as much of it has come on assists from the point guard. He has cleared this assists prop in four of his last five games.
Adding in the Hornets moneyline may seem ambitious, even as -220 favorites, given the continued tank for Flagg and the difficulty in comprehending the weeks before the NBA All-Star break. However, let's keep in mind that Portland is on the second night of a back-to-back and should continue to be doubted.
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Trail Blazers vs Hornets odds
Trail Blazers vs Hornets live odds
Trail Blazers vs Hornets opening odds
- Spread: Portland +4.5 | Charlotte -4.5
- Moneyline: Portland +160 | Charlotte -190
- Over/Under: Over 222 | Under 222
Odds courtesy of bet365
Trail Blazers vs Hornets spread and Over/Under analysis
- Portland is on a three-game winning streak after walloping Orlando last night, but this spread has still climbed away from the Blazers after opening with them as 4.5-point underdogs.
- By the early morning, the spread had climbed to +5, and it reached +5.5 in the early afternoon.
- This total opened at 222 and slipped overnight to 219.5 before steadily rallying all morning to settle at 221.5.
Trail Blazers vs Hornets trend
Though not a distinctly Under team this season (21 of 44 games to the Under), Portland has cashed the Under in five of seven games on the second night of a back-to-back this season. Find more NBA betting trends for Trail Blazers vs. Hornets.
How to watch Trail Blazers vs Hornets
| Location | Spectrum Center, Charlotte, NC |
| Date | Friday, 1-24-2025 |
| Tip-off | 7:00 p.m. ET |
| TV | KUNP, FanDuel Sports Network - Southeast - Charlotte |
Trail Blazers vs Hornets latest injuries
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