The Charlotte Hornets will face the Philadelphia 76ers on Friday at the Wells Fargo Center. This will be the third meeting between the two teams this season, with Philadelphia winning both. The Hornets are currently in 13th place in the Eastern Conference with a 15-44 record and are coming off a 99-111 loss to the Milwaukee Bucks at home. Brandon Miller scored 21 points, seven rebounds and one assist in that game. Meanwhile, the 76ers are in fifth place in the Eastern Conference and are coming off a 117-99 loss to the Boston Celtics on Tuesday. Tyrese Maxey scored 32 points, five assists, three rebounds and one block in that game.
Preview
The Hornets ended the first half of the season with four consecutive wins and started the second half with a dominant win. However, they have suffered a setback and have lost three of their last four games. With a 7-22 record on the record, a turnaround seems unlikely.
The Hornets have struggled with injuries that have complicated their chances. LaMelo Ball has been sidelined for more than a month with an ankle injury and is not expected to return until next week. Additionally, Mark Williams is out with a back injury, leaving the Hornets without two key players in offense and defense.
Meanwhile, the 76ers have lost four of their last five games in a row, with three of those losses coming at home. Philadelphia is ranked in the top 10 in most defensive metrics related to defending the 3-point line. Tyrese Maxey leads the team with an average of 25.9 points and 6.4 assists per game.
Starting lineup
The Hornets will most likely start with Tre Mann, Cody Martin, Brandon Miller, Miles Bridges and Nick Richards. Meanwhile, the 76ers will start with Tyrese Maxey, Kelly Oubre, Buddy Hield, Tobias Harris and Paul Reed.
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Prediction
The Philadelphia 76ers are favored to win against the Hornets at home. They are favored at -11 points spread and -620 on the moneyline.
