Game Preview
The Charlotte Hornets (5-9) will be looking to snap a two-game skid when they host the Detroit Pistons (7-9) on Thursday night. While the Hornets have struggled to find consistency this season, hovering around a 36-percent win rate, the Pistons have been a shade above .500 at nearly 44 percent.
Offense has been a challenge for Charlotte, averaging just 109 points per game. They've been especially sluggish over their last 10 contests, mustering just 105 points on 43-percent shooting. The three-point shot hasn't been falling either, with the Hornets hitting a pedestrian 36 percent from deep during that stretch. On the positive side, they've been solid at the charity stripe, converting nearly 78 percent of their free throws.
Detroit, meanwhile, has found more offensive rhythm, scoring 113 points per game over their last five behind improved ball movement (28 assists). The Pistons have been lethal from beyond the arc recently, knocking down nearly 37 percent of their threes to complement a 45-percent rate from the field. However, they'll need to tighten up their grip on the rock after averaging 14 turnovers during their last 10 games.
Where the Hornets could find an edge is on the glass. Charlotte has grabbed almost 50 rebounds per game over its previous five outings, led by the physical presence of [KEY REBOUNDER]. The Pistons have been slightly more modest on the boards, pulling down just under 50 rebounds nightly over their last 10 games.
With both teams struggling to defend consistently, this matchup could come down to which squad can impose its offensive style. If the Hornets can control the pace and crash the boards, they may be able to grind out a much-needed home win. But the hot-shooting Pistons have the firepower to run Charlotte out of the gym if they can maintain their recent three-point barrage.
The Detroit Pistons have been the stronger team recently, winning 60.0% of their last 10 games compared to just 30.0% for the Charlotte Hornets over the same span. Detroit has been more efficient on offense, shooting 46.2% from the field versus 42.5% for Charlotte in the last 10 games. The Pistons have also been better at taking care of the basketball, averaging 14.0 turnovers per game compared to 14.8 for the Hornets.
While Charlotte has a slight edge in three-point shooting at 35.8% compared to 34.1% for Detroit over their last 10 games, the Pistons have scored more points on average (112.7 to 105.4). Detroit has also been stingier on defense, allowing 109.4 points per game versus 112.0 for the Hornets during this stretch.
Based on their superior recent performance, particularly on offense, the Detroit Pistons appear to have a legitimate chance to cover the -2.0 spread against the Charlotte Hornets. Their ability to score efficiently while taking better care of the basketball gives them a meaningful statistical advantage.