Charlotte Hornets at New York Knicks NBA Picks & Predictions 3/17/2018

Saturday, March 17, 2018

Madison Square Garden

Get todays NBA odds and lines on this game.

The Charlotte Hornets travel to Madison Square Garden to play the New York Knicks on Saturday, March 17, 2018. The opening line for this matchup has Charlotte as 6 point favorites.

The Hornets come into this game with an overall record of 30-39. They are 3rd in the Southeast Division. They currently have a point differential of -0.4 as they are averaging 107.3 points per game while giving up 107.7 per contest. The Knicks have an overall record of 24-45. They currently are 4th in the Atlantic Division. They are averaging 104.0 points per game and surrendering 107.8, good for a point differential of -3.8.

Valuable Charlotte Hornets Betting Trends

The Charlotte Hornets are 29-36-4 against the spread

The Charlotte Hornets are 35-32-2 against the over/under

Important New York Knicks Betting Trends

The New York Knicks are 31-38-0 against the spread

The New York Knicks are 36-32-1 against the over/under

Key Charlotte Hornets Injuries

03/15/18 F Cody Zeller Knee is "?" Saturday vs New York
03/09/18 G Michael Carter-Williams Shoulder is out for season

Key New York Knicks Injuries

03/15/18 F Lance Thomas Personal is "?" Saturday vs Charlotte
02/07/18 F Kristaps Porzingis ACL is out for season

Player Spotlight

Kemba Walker averages 22.7 points per game in 34.9 minutes per contest this season. He averages 5.8 assists per contest and 3.2 rebounds per game for Charlotte. His field goal percentage is 43% for the year while his free throw percentage is 85%. Dwight Howard comes into this contest averaging 16.5 points per game while playing 30.6 minutes per night so far this season for the Hornets. He pulls down 12.1 rebounds per game and dishes out 1.3 assists per game as well. His field goal percentage is 56% while his free throw percentage is currently at 57%.

Player Spotlight

Tim Hardaway averages 17.3 points per game this season and he sees the court an average of 33 minutes per contest. He also averages 4 rebounds per contest and 2.8 assists per game. His field goal percentage is 42% and his free throw percentage is 81%. Enes Kanter averages 14.1 points per game while playing 25.7 minutes per contest this year for the Knicks. He grabs 10.8 rebounds per game and has 1.5 assists per contest on the year. His field goal percentage is 60% and his free throw percentage currently is at 85%.

Useful Team Statistics

The Hornets allow 107.7 points per game to their opponents which ranks them 18th in the league. They also allow a 47% shooting percentage and a 38% average from behind the arc, ranking them 22nd and 28th in those defensive categories. Opponents average 43.4 rebounds a game which ranks 17th, and they give up 24.7 assists per contest which puts them in 26th place in the league. They force 13.9 turnovers per game which ranks them 7th in the league. Charlotte averages 107.3 points per contest this season, which ranks them 12th in the NBA. Their average scoring margin is -0.42 and their shooting percentage is 45% as a team, which has them ranked 24th. Behind the arc they shoot 37% which is good for 7th in the league. They average 44.9 rebounds per game and 21.5 assists per game, which ranks them 4th and 25th in those offensive categories. In the turnover department they rank 28th with 12.6 per game.

Useful Team Statistics

The Knicks surrender 107.8 points per contest, which ranks them 20th in the NBA. Their defense is allowing a 46% shooting percentage and a 38% average from 3-point range, ranking them 13th and 27th in those defensive statistics. They rank 20th with 23.9 assists allowed per contest, and 11th with 42.6 rebounds surrendered per game. The Knicks are 6th in the NBA in forcing turnovers with 13.6 per game this season. New York is 21st in the league with 104 points per game this year. They are 12th in the league in shooting at 46%, while their average scoring margin is -3.84. They shoot 35% from 3-point range, which is good for 28th in the NBA. They are 16th in the league in rebounding with 43.9 boards per game and 14th in assists per contest with 22.8. The Knicks are 9th in turnovers per game with 15.

Advanced Statistics

The Hornets are 14th in the league in defensive rating with 109, and their offensive rating of 108.6 is ranked 14th. They are 8th in the NBA in pace with 98.3 possessions per 48 minutes, and their eFG% of 51% is 26th. As a unit they are 22nd in the league in true shooting percentage with 55% and they shoot 3-pointers on 31% of their shot attempts, ranking 23rd in the NBA. Charlotte is 30th in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 11.3 times per 100 possessions while forcing 12.8 on defense. Their defensive eFG% for the year currently is 53%, which is 7th in the NBA.

Advanced Statistics

New York is 10th in the league in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 13.6 times per 100 possessions while forcing 12.4 on defense. Their defensive eFG% for the year currently is 53%, which is 14th in the NBA. The Knicks are 20th in the league in defensive rating with 110.7, and their offensive rating of 106.8 is ranked 7th. They are 16th in the NBA in pace with 96.7 possessions per 48 minutes, and their eFG% of 51% is 22nd. As a unit they are 24th in the league in true shooting percentage with 54% and they shoot 3-pointers on 26% of their shot attempts, ranking 30th in the NBA.

Who will win tonight's Hornets/Knicks NBA game against the spread?

Josh's Pick: Take New York +6

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