[7:00 PM] Hornets @ Pelicans

Who will WIN this matchup?

Charlotte Hornets (8-3)

@ New Orleans Pelicans (3-10)

 

• The line for this game is Charlotte by 3.5 points.

• The Charlotte Hornets hope to avoid a letdown fewer than 24 hours after their biggest victory of the season when they visit the New Orleans Pelicans on Saturday night. The Hornets are off to a strong start overall, but had yet to beat a top-tier squad until rallying to edge the Atlanta Hawks 100-96 on Friday with a career high-matching 23 points from center Cody Zeller.

• Leading scorer Kemba Walker missed all seven shots he took from the field in the first half Friday before extending his streak of games with at least 20 points to 10 with 21 in the victory. Zeller was shut out in 14 minutes against Cleveland last Sunday before draining 15-of-19 shots from the floor the last two games and added a season-high three blocked shots against Atlanta. Nicolas Batum has been on target from long range in the last four games, draining 12 of his 24 attempts from behind the 3-point arc.

• New Orleans moved the ball well and got good shots Friday — recording 31 assists on 45 field goals and connecting on 54.9 percent from the field while limiting Portland to 37.5. The 23-year-old Davis has scored at least 30 points eight times in 12 games, including five of his last six, and has blocked at least four shots in five contests. Holiday’s inclusion should help a backcourt that includes playmaker Tim Frazier, who recorded at least eight assists in eight of his 13 games this season while averaging 10.8 points.

• New Orleans C Alexis Ajinca, who is one rebound shy of 1,000 for his career, missed Friday’s game with a shoulder injury and is day-to-day.

• Charlotte was expecting to get G/F Jeremy Lamb (hamstring) back Friday, but he is still experiencing soreness and is day-to-day.

• The teams split a pair of games last season with each winning on its home court.

 

StreakSmarts Pick: Charlotte Hornets

Confidence: 5/10

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