Charlotte Hornets vs Sacramento Kings Picks and Predictions April 4th 2025

Sacramento Nearing Must-Win Territory

After three straight losses and defeats in seven of their past eight games, the Sacramento Kings (36-40) find themselves on the brink of desperation as they visit the Charlotte Hornets (19-57) Friday night. With playoff hopes hanging by a thread, every game now holds added weight, making this clash pivotal to their postseason chances.

Sacramento’s recent slide includes a frustrating 116-111 defeat at Washington on Wednesday night, marking a missed opportunity against a team with one of the league’s worst records. Kings interim coach Doug Christie emphasized the need to dramatically increase their level of intensity, especially against teams at the bottom of the standings.

“The intensity has to ratchet up,” Christie stressed. “You have to bring it every night, regardless of who you’re facing. You can’t coast through games and expect to win.”

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Kings’ Offensive Struggles Adding to Pressure

Veteran forward DeMar DeRozan has consistently delivered during Sacramento’s recent slump, averaging a team-best 22.2 points per game and leading the Kings in scoring in three straight games. DeRozan had 29 points against the Wizards, but it wasn’t enough to secure a crucial victory.

Sacramento’s offensive production, however, has been inconsistent. In fact, since their dominant 130-88 victory over Charlotte on Feb. 24, in which Zach LaVine erupted for 42 points in just 31 minutes, no Kings player has scored more than 36 points in a game. A repeat of that earlier offensive showcase would be exactly what the Kings need to get back on track.

Charlotte Looks for Late-Season Positives

The Hornets enter this matchup after dropping six of their past seven games, including Wednesday’s 119-105 loss to the Indiana Pacers. Offensive struggles continue to plague Charlotte, which has scored 106 points or fewer in each of its past eight losses. Miles Bridges has led the team offensively, including an 18-point effort against Indiana, but the Hornets have struggled to generate consistent scoring beyond him.

Despite being eliminated from playoff contention, Charlotte remains motivated to close the season strong, using every game to build momentum heading into next year.

“It’s important to play the right way,” guard Seth Curry said. “We don’t want to waste these last few games. We want to keep getting better and put something on film that we can build on.”

Injury Concerns for Hornets

Charlotte might be short-handed on Friday. Rookie Damion Baugh left Wednesday’s game with an injury, and Josh Green exited after just eight minutes with a lingering shoulder issue. Taj Gibson (illness) and Nick Smith Jr. (ankle) also missed Wednesday’s game, leaving their statuses in doubt.

One bright spot has been the recent play of center Mark Williams, who didn’t play in the previous meeting with the Kings. Williams has notched double-doubles in three consecutive games, shooting 61.5 percent from the field this season.

Season Series

Sacramento leads the season series after the February blowout win. With this being their final meeting this season, the Kings will be eager to replicate their success to snap their losing streak and improve their postseason chances.

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NBA Betting Picks

For bettors, this game presents intriguing possibilities. While Sacramento’s struggles add some uncertainty, their urgency and recent success against the Hornets could make them attractive from a wagering perspective. For more insights, visit our NBA Betting Picks page.

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