Game Preview: Hornets vs. Kings
On Wednesday night at 10 p.m. EDT, the Charlotte Hornets (33-33) are scheduled to face the Sacramento Kings (16-50) in Sacramento, California. This matchup features two teams from opposite sides of the Eastern and Western Conferences, with the Hornets currently positioned 10th in the East. Charlotte enters the game as heavy favorites, with a line from BETMGM SPORTSBOOK listing them at -12.5, and an over/under set at 226.5 points.
Team Performance
The Kings have struggled this season, particularly at home, where they hold a disappointing record of 11-22. Sacramento has managed to keep a 3-4 record in tightly contested games, decided by four points or fewer. In contrast, the Hornets have found more success on the road, with a 19-16 record.
In terms of rebounding, Charlotte ranks second in the Eastern Conference, averaging 46.3 boards per game, bolstered by Moussa Diabate, who contributes 8.7 rebounds per contest.
Shooting and Defense
From beyond the arc, the Kings have averaged a modest 10.0 made three-pointers this season. However, they face a challenge as they contend with a Hornets defense that allows 12.9 three-pointers per game. Interestingly, Charlotte’s shooting percentage of 45.9% is also slightly lower than the 49.4%% shooting allowed by Sacramento’s defense.
Key Players
Key players to watch will include Russell Westbrook, who is averaging 15.5 points this season with a shooting accuracy of 43.1% for the Kings, and Malik Monk, who has notched 1.8 three-pointers per game over his last ten outings. For the Hornets, Kon Knueppel has been impressive, averaging 19.2 points along with 5.3 rebounds and 3.4 assists. Additionally, Brandon Miller has stepped up, scoring an average of 21.3 points in the past ten games.
Recent Performance
Over their last ten games, Sacramento has managed a record of 4-6 while averaging 113.6 points and 45.8 rebounds, alongside 27.5 assists and shooting 46.2% from the field, though their opponents have averaged a much higher 122.7 points per game against them. In comparison, Charlotte has performed well with a record of 7-3 in their last ten, averaging 117.2 points, 47.8 rebounds, and shooting 45.4% against defenses that permit only 105.0 points per game.
Injury Report
In terms of injuries, the Kings face significant issues with several players out for the season including Domantas Sabonis and De’Andre Hunter, alongside others like Malik Monk who is listed as day-to-day. The Hornets share a similar story with Liam McNeeley, Coby White, and Tidjane Salaun all dealing with injuries, marking them as questionable for the upcoming game.
