Can LaMelo Ball lead Charlotte to a victory over Ty

The Charlotte Hornets (3-5) will host the Indiana Pacers (4-4) in a matchup between 2020 NBA draftee LaMelo Ball and Tyrese Haliburton. Both teams enter tonight on a high after winning their most recent contests. It will be a burner in the Queen City that deserves a “must-watch label” to see Ball and Haliburton do their thing. Here’s how our staff sees tonight’s game playing out.

Charlotte is still dealing with injuries, especially at the center position, and while the team looked good against Detroit, it was a close game. Now the Hornets are up against a more skilled Pacers team, which could make this game even tougher.

Prediction record: 4-1

I think this one could go either way. These are two of the worst defenses in the league, both of which are missing multiple big men due to injury. Since Tyrese Haliburton has looked underwhelming so far and the Hornets have home court advantage, I’ll give them a slight edge.

Prediction Record: 5-3

Charlotte recently pulled off an impressive win against the Detroit Pistons in a close game on Wednesday night. However, they will face the Indiana Pacers next, who could pose a tougher challenge for the Hornets inside due to Charlotte’s continued health issues. Both teams have struggled defensively, but the Pacers, with a healthier roster that included four double-digit scorers in their starting lineup Wednesday, will likely have the upper hand against this Hornets team.

Prediction Record: 4-2

The Hornets are extremely shorthanded tonight and I think it’s too much to overcome. With Bridges injured and Mark/Richards out, the Hornets lack a lot of size, leaving only Grant and Tidjane as the only remaining power forwards. It should be a tough match against Pascal Siakam and Myles Turner.

Prediction record: 6-1

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Spread and Over/Under Predictions: Pacers at Hornets