New Orleans Pelicans @ Charlotte Hornets - January 25, 2025

As we gear up for the clash between the New Orleans Pelicans and Charlotte Hornets at Spectrum Center, there’s plenty to dissect. Oddsmakers have opened with the Pelicans as -2-point favorites, and while that may seem slight, it reflects a competitive matchup between two teams struggling to find their footing this season.

Both teams come into this game with disappointing records—New Orleans at 12-33 straight up (SU) and Charlotte at 11-30 SU. However, what stands out is how each team has performed against the spread (ATS). The Pelicans are showing signs of life recently, going 5-2 ATS in their last seven games and winning four of their last five outright. In contrast, Charlotte has struggled considerably, posting a dismal 5-20 SU in its last 25 outings.

Offensively, New Orleans holds a slight edge over Charlotte. They average about 109.2 points per game on a shooting percentage of approximately 44.3%. Their ability to create plays is evident with an average of 25.3 assists per game compared to Charlotte’s mere 23.9 assists per game. The Hornets’ offensive stats reveal they score around 107.4 points per game but struggle with a lower shooting efficiency of just over 43%. Both teams shoot similarly from three-point range—Charlotte at about 34.5% and New Orleans slightly lower at roughly 34.4%.

Defensively, both squads show vulnerabilities but also some strengths worth noting. The Pelicans manage to secure around 43.3 rebounds per game while forcing nearly ten steals—a critical stat that speaks to their defensive pressure capabilities. Conversely, Charlotte grabs more boards (46) but loses more turnovers (15.9), which can be detrimental when facing an opportunistic team like New Orleans.

Considering recent performances and trends, I predict that the Pelicans will emerge victorious tonight while covering the spread as well—likely due to their better recent form and overall scoring capability despite both teams’ struggles this season.

The total for this matchup opened at 225.5; however, given both teams’ tendencies towards low-scoring outputs in recent games—the Hornets just had a low-scoring affair against the Trail Blazers where they lost by five points—and considering that both offenses have been inconsistent lately, I anticipate this contest will trend toward hitting under that mark.

In summary: expect a hard-fought battle where the New Orleans Pelicans take home a win while covering the -2 point spread; meanwhile, keep your eye on those total points as I foresee them landing below the expected threshold tonight.