The Hornets are hosting the Knicks on Thursday. On DraftKings Sportsbook, Charlotte is favored by 1.5 points and this game carries a total of 222.5 points.
Let’s dive into my preview and pick for this matchup.
Hornets vs. Knicks preview
The Hornets and Knicks will meet for the third time this season tonight and then once again in the regular season finale in a few weeks. New York is 2-0 in this season series, winning once at home and once on the road. Every game is crucial right now for both of these Eastern Conference clubs.
The Knicks are chasing the Celtics for the No .3 seed and are only a half game back of the rival. The Hornets are the No.9 seed and looking to improve their seed for the Play-In Tournament, or to possibly avoid the tournament all together. Charlotte is only two games back of the No.6 seeded Raptors, which will be the lowest seed to miss the Play-In Tournament.
While Charlotte is 0-2 vs. the Knicks this season, those two games came in late November and early December. Since then, things have changed dramatically for the Hornets. Before the All-Star break, they were just 26-29, but since the break, Charlotte is 12-5 and the club leads the NBA in net rating. The Hornets have been excellent on both sides of the ball, ranking first in offensive rating and fifth in defensive rating over this time.
LaMelo Ball, Brandon Miller and Kon Knueppel are working as one of the top, young trios in the league, and trade deadline acquisition Coby White has been an excellent fit, scoring at least 18 points off the bench in four of his last five. Charlotte has won four straight games by at least 19 points and the team has only lost once in it’s last seven, and that came at the hands of the red hot Spurs.
The Knicks have also been playing well since the All-Star break with a 13-5 record and ranking fourth in net rating. Over this stretch, New York ranks fifth in defensive rating, but just ninth in offensive rating. Jalen Brunson and Karl-Anthony Towns have been steady, both averaging over 20 PPG, but their counterparts have been inconsistent, especially Mikal Bridges. Since the All-Star break, the wing is only averaging 10.8 PPG and he has scored single-digits in six of his last 10 entering tonight.
The Knicks sent five first-round picks to Nets in exchange for Bridges back in the summer of 2024 and he was essential in New York’s run to the Eastern Conference Finals last season, but the Knicks likely aren’t making it that far this postseason if Bridges can’t step it up on both sides of the ball.
The Knicks have had issues competing away from Madison Square Garden this season with a 20-16 away record, compared to a 27-9 home record, but they have improved in this department recently. New York is 7-3 on the road since the All-Star break. That being said, most of these wins came against lottery teams and against playoff or Play-In likely opponents during this stretch, the Knicks are just 2-3. It’s been an up-and-down rollercoaster for New York on the road and it will be interesting to see what version of the Knicks shows up tonight in Charlotte.
Hornets vs. Knicks pick, best Bet
While the Knicks are the higher seed, the Hornets have been better in the second half of the season and they are the home team tonight.
Charlotte should win this game and is an excellent bet to cover this small 1.5-point spread. The Hornets have won four straight by 19 points and they are a league-best 44-28 ATS this season. Meanwhile, the Knicks are 4-7 SU and 5-6 ATS as an away underdog.
