Sacramento Kings vs Charlotte Hornets Picks and Predictions February 24th 2025

Hornets Look to Rebound Against Kings After Historic 53-Point Loss

The Charlotte Hornets are hoping to put one of the worst nights in franchise history behind them as they face the Sacramento Kings on Monday night. Both teams have struggled defensively in recent games, setting the stage for what could be an offensive showcase in Sacramento.

Hornets Reeling After Blowout Losses

Charlotte’s West Coast trip started with a shocking 100-97 win over the Lakers but quickly spiraled into back-to-back blowout losses. A 129-115 defeat in Denver was followed by a 141-88 thrashing in Portland, tying the worst loss in franchise history.

The Hornets’ defensive struggles have been glaring, allowing:

• 54.1% opponent field goal shooting (2nd worst in the NBA over the last two games)
• 45.3% opponent three-point shooting (worst in the NBA over that span)
• 135.0 points per game given up (2nd worst in the league)

Despite the rough stretch, head coach Charles Lee remains optimistic:

“This group, the people that I know in that locker room, the care factor and the character, will be better next game.”

Charlotte is playing its seventh game of a nine-game road trip, making the test even tougher as they try to regain their form.

Kings Seeking Defensive Stability

Sacramento hasn’t fared much better lately, suffering a 140-133 overtime loss to New Orleans and a 132-108 home loss to Golden State. The Kings have allowed:

• 136.0 points per game in their last two outings (most in the NBA)
• 51.9% opponent field goal shooting (4th worst in the league)
• 44.1% opponent three-point shooting (3rd worst in the league)

The Kings are still adjusting to life without De’Aaron Fox, and turnovers have become a major concern. In their loss to Golden State, Sacramento committed 24 turnovers, leading to 38 Warriors points.

Interim head coach Doug Christie emphasized that limiting giveaways is the key to bouncing back:

“The biggest concern is offensively, you’re turning the ball over with live-ball turnovers; there’s not a lot of defense for that.”

Despite their struggles, the Kings have been resilient after losing streaks. They’ve lost two straight four times since Jan. 23, and each time, they won the next game.

LaMelo Ball’s California Homecoming

A visit to Sacramento means another home-state game for LaMelo Ball, who shined in last week’s win over the Lakers with 27 points. Ball has enjoyed success in Sacramento, averaging 24.0 points and 12.3 assists in his three previous visits.

With matchups against Golden State (Tuesday) and the Clippers (March 16) still ahead, Ball will be eager to put on a show in front of California fans once again.

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What’s at Stake?

• Charlotte is looking to salvage its road trip and regain momentum after its worst loss of the season.
• Sacramento is aiming to snap a two-game losing streak and stay in the playoff race.
• Both teams need defensive improvements after giving up massive scoring numbers in recent games.

Can the Hornets bounce back from one of their worst defeats ever, or will the Kings take advantage of a struggling opponent? Tip-off is set for Monday night in Sacramento.