Pelicans vs. Hornets Prediction: Expert Picks, Odds, Stats & Best Bets - Thursday, March 23, 2023

The New Orleans Pelicans (35-37) are 7-point favorites as they are set to play the Charlotte Hornets (23-50) on March 23, 2023. A point total of 225.5 is set for the game.

Pelicans vs. Hornets Odds

Pelicans odds to win: -322
Hornets odds to win: +255
Spread: Pelicans (-7)
Total: 225.5

Pelicans vs. Hornets Promo Codes

Game Time and Information

When: Thursday, March 23, 2023 at 8:00 PM ET
Where: Smoothie King Center in New Orleans, Louisiana
TV: BSNO and BSSE

Who Will Win Pelicans vs. Hornets?

Pelicans and Hornets Betting Trends, Records Against the Spread

In games they have played as at least 7-point favorites this season, the Pelicans are 7-4 against the spread.

In games they have played as at least 7-point underdogs this year, the Hornets are 12-18-1 against the spread.

The Pelicans and the Hornets combine to average 0.2 fewer points per game than the over/under of 225.5 set for this matchup.

New Orleans and Charlotte have seen its opponents average a combined 4.9 more points per game than the point total of 225.5 set in this matchup.

The average total for Pelicans games this season is 1.5 more points than the total of 225.5 in this game.

The average point total for Charlotte this season is 3.2 points higher than this game’s over/under.

New Orleans is 33-38-1 against the spread this season.

So far this year, the Hornets have put together a 31-39-3 record against the spread.

Pelicans Stats & Insights

The Pelicans score 114.0 points per game (16th in the NBA) and allow 113.0 (14th in the league) for a +73 scoring differential overall.

The Pelicans win the rebound battle by 1.3 boards on average. They collect 43.5 rebounds per game, which ranks 14th in the league, while their opponents grab 42.2 per outing.

New Orleans makes 10.9 three-pointers per game (23rd in the league), 1.4 fewer than its opponents (12.3).

The Pelicans’ 111.4 points per 100 possessions on offense rank 20th in the NBA, and the 110.3 points they allow per 100 possessions rank ninth in the league.

In the 2022-23 campaign, the Pelicans score 1.0 more point per home game on average than on the road (114.5 at home, 113.5 on the road), but are conceding 7.1 fewer points per home game compared to road games (109.4 at home, 116.5 on the road).

Hornets Stats & Insights

The Hornets have been outscored by 6.1 points per game (posting 111.3 points per game, 27th in league, while allowing 117.4 per contest, 23rd in NBA) and have a -448 scoring differential.

Charlotte loses the rebound battle by an average of 1.9 boards. It grabs 44.6 rebounds per game (eighth in league) compared to its opponents’ 46.5.

The Hornets connect on 10.6 three-pointers per game (27th in the league) at a 32.7% rate (29th in NBA), compared to the 12.3 per contest their opponents make, shooting 35.9% from deep.

The Hornets’ 109.8 points per 100 possessions on offense rank 25th in the NBA, and the 113.9 points they concede per 100 possessions rank 22nd in the league.

Charlotte is scoring fewer points at home (110.0 per game) than away (112.5).

Pelicans Key Players to Watch

CJ McCollum leads active Pelicans’ players in points and assists per game, scoring 21.0 points and distributing 5.9 assists.

Jonas Valanciunas scores 14.2 points per game and adds 9.8 rebounds and 1.7 assists for the Pelicans.

McCollum leads active Pelicans in three-point shooting, making an average of 2.8 shots per game from beyond the arc.

Herbert Jones averages 1.6 steals per game, while Valanciunas has 0.6 blocks per contest.

Hornets Key Players to Watch

Terry Rozier’s showing this season has resulted in strong scoring and assists numbers, with 21.4 points per game and 5.1 assists per game to go with 4.1 rebounds per contest.

Nick Richards’ per-game averages this season are 7.9 points, 0.6 assists and 6.1 rebounds.

Rozier hits 2.6 treys per game.

Dennis Smith Jr.’s 1.4 steals and P.J. Washington’s 1.1 blocks per game are vital to the Hornets’ defensive effort.