What: Charlotte Hornets (8-30) (4-13 home) vs San Antonio Spurs (7-33) (4-17 away)

When: 7:00pm Eastern

Where: Spectrum Center; Charlotte, NC

How to watch: Bally Sports Southeast, NBA League Pass

Outfitting: Hornets–Statement (purple), Spurs–Association (white)

Game Lines: Hornets -4.5, O/U 236.5

Injuries:
Hornets: Brandon Miller-questionable (back), Nick Richards-questionable (ankle), Bryce McGowens-questionable (hop flexor), Mark Williams-out (back), Gordon Hayward-out (back)

Spurs: Victor Wembanyama-out (rest), Sidy Cissoko-out (ankle), Zach Collins-questionable (ankle)

The Charlotte Hornets were embarrassed in the first meeting between these two teams. The Spurs brought a whole lot more effort and played with a lot more physicality in what was their largest win of the season. The 36 point differential was 14 points greater than the Spurs’ previous largest win, which came a couple days earlier against the lowly Pistons.

The loss to the Spurs was the second of an active streak of four straight games that the Hornets have lost by at least 17 points. The streak has caused the Hornets to plummet to the worst point differential in the league by a pretty substantial margin. Their point differential is 1.3 points per game worse than the Pistons, who are 4-37.

There aren’t many games on the schedule that even look like potential wins for the Hornets at this point. However, if there was such a thing as a “should win” game for the Hornets, it’s this one. The Spurs have lost three straight since their win over the Hornets and are right smack in the middle of a five game east coast road trip. Plus Victor Wembanyama is being rested as what I can only assume is a huge favor to the Hornets from Gregg Popovich. Wembanyama was a nightmare for the Hornets last time they played, scoring 26 points and pulling in 11 rebounds in just 20 minutes of action.

The Hornets just need to limit Keldon Johnson and Devin Vassell as scorers and not let Doug McDermott roam free like they did last time. The Spurs are pretty devoid of firepower. They’ve been pretty good defensively lately, but that’ll take a big hit without Wembanyama’s elasti-arms sprawling all over the court. It’s as good a chance at a win as the Hornets are going to get. Let’s see if they can actually pull it off.