**What:** Charlotte Hornets (17-50) (10-24 home) vs Atlanta Hawks (32-36) (15-18 away)
**When:** 7:00pm Eastern
**Where:** Spectrum Center; Charlotte, NC
**How to watch:** FanDuel Sports Network, NBA League Pass
**Outfitting:** Hornets–Statement (purple), Hawks–Association (white)
**Game Lines:** Hornets +6.5, Hornets money line +215, O/U 236.5
**Injuries:**
Hornets: LaMelo Ball-probable (wrist), Marcus Garrett-probable (back), Miles Bridges-out (rest), Josh Okogie-out (hamstring), Brandon Miller-out (wrist), Tre Mann-out (back), Grant Williams-out (knee)
Hawks: Trae Young-probable (achilles), Clint Capela-out (family), Jalen Johnson-out (shoulder), Caris LeVert-out (knee), Kobe Bufkin-out (shoulder), Larry Nance Jr.-out (leg)
On paper, this is the Hornets’ most winnable game in the next week or two. Not that it’s likely or anything, but the next stretch of games is inarguably more difficult. So naturally the Hornets took the opportunity to rest their only player that’s been consistently healthy and productive in recent weeks. Miles Bridges will get the night off lest he continue to play well and accidentally help the Hornets win a game.
The Hawks have struggled in the two games they’ve played since their win over the Hornets last Wednesday. They lost badly at home to the Clippers with Trae Young not benefitting from the bevy of free throws he was granted against the Hornets. They lost on the road to the Nets due to some hot shooting from their opponent.
The outside shooting will be a big swing factor in this game. The Hawks are among the five worst teams in the league in both opponent 3-point percentage and 3-pointers made per game. We saw the Hornets catch fire against the Spurs on Friday and set a team record for threes made and then do pretty much the exact opposite against the Clippers on Sunday. The Hawks are going to allow plenty of open looks. It’s a matter of whether or not the Hornets can cash those in.
Defensively, the Hornets have to be much more disciplined guarding Trae Young. He baited them into 21 free throw attempts for himself. The Hornets typically do a good job containing Young. They need to make him earn his points from the field where he’s struggled pretty badly this season.
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