- Matchup: Atlanta Hawks vs Charlotte Hornets
- Date: Friday, October 23, 2026
- Venue: Spectrum Center, Charlotte, NC
- Broadcast: WSOC
- Betting Odds: Atlanta Hawks favored by 2.5 points
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In a highly anticipated showdown, the Charlotte Hornets (44-38 last season) face off against the Atlanta Hawks (46-36 last year) at Spectrum Center this Friday. The Hornets are set as 2.5-point underdogs, with the over/under line established at 225.5 points.
The Hawks recently secured a victory against the Magic, finishing strong at 132-125. In that game, Atlanta recorded 30 personal fouls compared to Orlando’s 28. They hit 13 of 40 attempts from beyond the arc, while Orlando achieved a free throw success rate of 76.9% by making 30 of 39 attempts. The Magic amassed 39 rebounds (9 offensive, 30 defensive) and produced 3 blocks, along with 30 assists and 10 steals. Defensively, Atlanta allowed the opposition to convert 48.2% of their total shots, yielding 41 successful out of 85 attempts. The Hawks facilitated 28 assists, compelled 20 turnovers, and secured 9 steals themselves. On the boards, they registered a total of 42 rebounds, with 11 being offensive. At the charity stripe, Atlanta converted 30 of 36 free throw attempts, posting an impressive 83.3% shooting rate. In overall field goal percentage, they achieved 48.9% (44 of 90), including 14 successful attempts from 36 attempts from three-point territory.
Nickeil Alexander-Walker proved instrumental in that victory, contributing 31 points with an impressive 53.3% shooting from the field (8 of 15). He logged 30 minutes on the court and added 4 rebounds to his stat line, alongside 3 assists.
As they prepare for this contest, the Hawks come in with a solid record of 46-36 in the previous season. They averaged 118.5 points per game, ranking 6th in league scoring, with a shooting accuracy of 47.4%. From three-point range, they hit 37.1% of their shots (1,201 of 3,237) and posted a free throw percentage of 77.4%. Atlanta averaged 43.5 rebounds per game and led the league with a total of 2,471 assists last season, translating to about 14.2 turnovers per game, along with 19.7 personal fouls per contest.
Defensively, the Hawks forced their opponents into an average of 16.1 turnovers per game while drawing 18.5 fouls. They surrendered 35.5% on three-point attempts and held opponents to a scoring average of 116.0 points per game, ranking them 18th in this regard. Opponents shot 47.4% (3,473 of 7,334) against them, and Atlanta allowed 45.2 rebounds on average, landing them 15th in assists allowed with a total of 2,185 last season.
In their last matchup, the Hornets triumphed over the Nets with a score of 110-103. Charlotte secured 29 defensive rebounds and 15 offensive boards, totaling 44 rebounds. They faced a challenge with 21 turnovers while managing to achieve 9 steals. The Nets committed 25 fouls, sending the Hornets to the free-throw line 15 times, with Charlotte converting 13 shots for an impressive 86.7% free throw percentage. From long range, the Hornets made 15 out of 48 attempts (31.3%) and shot 44.1% overall (41 for 93). The Nets were able to score on 36 out of 80 attempts (45.0%) from the field, while Charlotte allowed the Nets to connect on 38 total rebounds (11 offensive).
Grayson Allen was a key player for the Hornets, scoring 21 points in just 29 minutes of play with 4 assists. He shot an impressive 66.7% from the field, converting 6 out of 9 attempts while also contributing 3 rebounds.
Last season, the Hornets finished with a record of 44-38. Offensively, they achieved a shooting accuracy of 46.0%, placing them 25th in the league. Charlotte scored a total of 9,513 points, averaging 116.0 per game, while pulling down 46.1 rebounds on average. They assisted on 26.3 scoring chances per game, placing them 15th league-wide, and recorded an average of 15.4 turnovers. The Hornets averaged 19.1 personal fouls per game and an impressive 81.8% from the free-throw line.
On the defensive end, Charlotte restricted opponents to 35.9% shooting from three-point range (1,051 of 2,924) and held teams to an 80.1% free throw percentage. They averaged 25.9 assists and 39.3 rebounds allowed per game, ranking 9th and 1st in those categories, respectively. The Hornets were 7th in the league for points allowed per game at 111.2, forcing opponents into 12.7 turnovers per contest and allowing a field goal percentage of 46.7% (11th in the league).
Who will emerge victorious in this NBA clash against the spread?
Prediction: Back Atlanta (-2.5)
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