Charlotte Hornets vs New Orleans Pelicans Picks and Predictions January 25th 2025

Charlotte Hornets vs New Orleans Pelicans January 25th 2025

At 7:00 ET, the New Orleans Pelicans (-167) will take on the Charlotte Hornets (+141) in a non-conference matchup. The Pelicans (-3.5) are favored on the road over the Hornets, who have lost two straight games.

This game will be played at Spectrum Center in Charlotte and can be seen on Gulf.

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Pelicans vs. Hornets Key Information

• Sport: NBA
• Teams: New Orleans Pelicans at Charlotte Hornets
• Where: Charlotte at Spectrum Center
• Date: Saturday, January 25th
• Betting Odds NO -3.5, NO -167 | CHA +141 O/U 227.5

The Pelicans Can Win If…

The Pelicans dropped to 12-33 on the season after a 139-126 loss to the Grizzlies on Friday. New Orleans was +9.5 point underdogs going into the game and failed to cover the spread. The total points of 265 exceeded the over/under line of 243.5 by 21.5 points.

New Orleans took control in the 2nd quarter, outscoring Memphis 42-29, but the Grizzlies responded with an 11-0 run, flipping the score from 76-67 to 78-76. The Pelicans entered the 4th quarter down 105-100 but were outscored 34-26 in the final period.

Dejounte Murray led the Pelicans with 26 points and 7 assists in their 139-126 loss to the Grizzlies, shooting 62.5% from the field. Trey Murphy III and CJ McCollum each added 22 points, with McCollum hitting 3 threes at a 60% rate.

New Orleans shot 54.2% overall and connected on 14 threes at 41.2%. Murray scored 15 points in the 1st quarter, while Jordan Hawkins added 15 of his 20 points in the 2nd.

The Pelicans struggled defensively, giving up 139 points to the Grizzlies, who shot 55% from the field. New Orleans allowed 33 points in the 1st quarter and 34 in the 4th, but their worst defensive stretch came in the 3rd, where they gave up 43 points.

From beyond the arc, the Grizzlies hit 19 threes at a 45% clip. The Pelicans also gave up 16 offensive rebounds while recording 6 steals and 3 blocks.

• Across their last three road contests, New Orleans has a 2-1 record vs the spread. Their overall mark in these games was 1-2, while averaging 121 points per game.
• As the betting favorite, the Pelicans have an ATS record of 3-2 in their last five games. In these matchups their, straight up record was 4-1.
• Over their last three games, the Pelicans have an over/under record of 3-0 and are 1-2 vs. the spread.

The Hornets Can Win If…

The Hornets fell to 11-30 on the season after a 102-97 home loss to the Trail Blazers on Friday. Charlotte, who entered the game as +1 point underdogs, failed to cover the spread. The total points of 199 fell short of the 216.5 O/U line.

Charlotte went on a 16-0 run early, taking the score from 12-10 to 26-12. However, after leading 30-22 at the end of the 1st quarter, the Hornets were outscored in each of the remaining quarters, including 29-22 in the 4th, where they entered with a 75-73 lead.

The Hornets struggled offensively in their 102-97 loss to the Trail Blazers, shooting just 37.6% from the field and 29% from three-point range, connecting on only 9 threes. Nick Smith Jr. led the team with 17 points, 9 of which came in the 2nd quarter, despite shooting 33.3% from the field and 20% from beyond the arc.

Josh Okogie contributed 16 points and 10 rebounds, scoring 5 points in both the 1st and 4th quarters. Mark Williams added 15 points, 11 of which came in the final period, while Josh Green scored 8 of his 14 points in the 1st quarter.

Even with a solid defensive effort, the Hornets couldn’t pull out the win, allowing 102 points to the Trail Blazers. Charlotte held Portland to 40% shooting from the field, including just 11 made threes on 28% shooting.

The Hornets sent the Blazers to the line 39 times, where they hit 27 free throws. Charlotte finished with 9 steals and 6 blocked shots.

• Charlotte has a 2-3 record in their last five home games. In this stretch, they averaged 116 points per game while allowing 120. The team also performed well vs the spread at 2-1-2.
• Spanning across their last five games as the betting underdog, the Hornets have gone 2-1-2 vs the spread. Their overall record in these games was 2-3.
• In their last three games, the Hornets have an over/under record of 0-3 and are 2-1 vs. the spread.

The Lean

We’re calling a win for the Pelicans, with a final score of 136-109, and we’re taking them to cover the spread. Our recommendation is to bet on the Pelicans at -3.5.

Right now, the over/under line for the game is sitting at 227.5 and given that our model is projecting 245 points between the teams, we like the over.

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Pelicans, Winning Streak Snapped, Hope to Rebound vs. Hornets

The New Orleans Pelicans will aim to recover from a disappointing defensive showing when they visit the Charlotte Hornets on Saturday night.

New Orleans saw its four-game winning streak snapped in a 139-126 road loss to the Memphis Grizzlies on Friday, surrendering 77 second-half points after leading by nine at halftime.

“We have to be more consistent with putting together four quarters,” Pelicans coach Willie Green said.

The Pelicans’ defense struggled to contain Memphis’ fast-paced attack, something they must fix quickly on the second night of a back-to-back road set.

Hornets Dealing With Injuries, Distractions

Charlotte also suffered a tough loss on Friday, falling 102-97 at home to the Portland Trail Blazers while playing without two key stars:

• LaMelo Ball (sprained right wrist)
• Miles Bridges (lower back spasms)

Ball’s All-Star snub has also been a hot topic in Charlotte. The fourth-leading scorer in the NBA (29.0 ppg) was not named a starter, despite his impressive season.

“I know how much he wanted it,” said Hornets coach Charles Lee. “I think his numbers speak for themselves.”

Compounding Charlotte’s issues:

• Cody Martin (groin tightness) played only five minutes Friday.
• Seth Curry (sprained ankle) was also sidelined.

The Hornets’ depth will be tested again if Ball and Bridges remain out.

Zion Williamson’s Status in Question for New Orleans

One key X-factor for the Pelicans is the potential return of Zion Williamson, who has missed the past two games due to illness.

New Orleans could use his physical presence inside after Jordan Hawkins (20 points off the bench Friday) had to step up in his absence.

The Pelicans’ injury concerns also include:

• Dejounte Murray (right elbow bursitis) – Played Friday, finishing with 26 points, seven assists, six rebounds.
• Yves Missi (illness) – Logged 10 points and five boards in 30 minutes against Memphis.

Both will be monitored closely to see if they’re available for the second night of a back-to-back.

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Hornets’ Mark Williams Must Be a Defensive Anchor

Charlotte center Mark Williams has been up-and-down offensively. He scored a career-high 38 points on Wednesday, but managed just 13 points on Friday.

Coach Lee emphasized the need for Williams to dominate the paint defensively, regardless of his offensive production.

“Defensively, I want to continue to see him grow, help us dominate the paint,” Lee said.

Road Struggles Loom Over New Orleans

The Pelicans have struggled mightily on the road, with a 4-17 record away from home. They’ll need to lock in defensively and adjust quickly after Friday’s defensive collapse to avoid a two-game skid.

The game marks the second stop in a three-game road trip for New Orleans, with another game looming in Cleveland on Monday.