Charlotte Hornets vs Houston Rockets NBA Betting Prediction

NBA Hornets vs Houston Rockets Prediction 10/23/2024

The Hornets are on the road to face the Houston Rockets, with both team’s playing their first-game of the season. Tip-off for this season-opener, is set for 8:00 at Toyota Center.

Hornets vs Rockets

charlotte hornets nba

The Hornets Are Looking To Start Their Season With A Win

Ranked 22nd in our pre-season power rankings, the Hornets have a 30.3% chance of making the playoffs and a 5.6% chance of winning their division. Last season, they finished 21-61, placing 4th in the Southeast Division and 13th in the Eastern Conference. They struggled both at home (11-30) and on the road (10-31).

Against the spread, Charlotte was 19-63, with a 9-32 home record and a 10-31 road record. They were favored in 6 games, going 3-3 straight-up but just 1-5 ATS. Their games averaged 223.4 points, and they had a 43-39 O/U record, with an average line of 224 points.

The Rockets Are Looking To Start Their Season With A Win

Houston finished last season with a 41-41 record, placing 11th in the Western Conference. This season, we have the Rockets ranked 12th in our NBA power rankings, with a 57.4% chance of making the playoffs and an 8.3% chance of winning their division. Last year, they went 9-7 in divisional games, finishing 3rd in the Southwest Division.

At home, the Rockets posted a +5.3 scoring margin, going 27-14, and they were 26-15 ATS. On the road, they were 14-27 straight-up and 11-30 ATS. As the favorite, they went 25-6, covering the spread in 21 of those games. Their average over/under line was 224.7 points, and they had a 42-40 O/U record, with their games averaging 227.5 points per game.

Hornets Offense Breakdown

Charlotte enters the season ranked 22nd in our offensive power rankings after finishing 28th in points per game (106.6) last season. They were 25th in both possessions (96.7) and field goal attempts (87.0) per game, with a 46.0% shooting percentage, ranking 26th. The Hornets were 23rd in made three-pointers per game (12.1) and 21st in three-point percentage (35.5%), attempting 34.0 per game (17th). They struggled at the free-throw line, ranking 30th in attempts per game (18.4), but they were 11th in free-throw percentage (78.6%).

LaMelo Ball is projected to lead the team in scoring, ranking 33rd in our league-wide projections. He is also projected to finish 5th in made three-pointers. Miles Bridges, who averaged 21 points per game last season, is projected to be 39th in scoring, while Brandon Miller is projected to be 45th. Miller is also expected to be 12th in made three-pointers. Mark Williams is out, and Grant Williams is projected to be 151st in scoring.

Rockets Offense Breakdown

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The Rockets enter this season ranked 15th in our offensive power rankings after finishing last year 16th in points per game (114.3). Houston played at a fast pace, ranking 13th in possessions per game (99.2), and they were 5th in field goal attempts per game (91.0), but they struggled with efficiency, finishing 27th in field goal percentage (45.9%). They were 12th in three-point attempts per game (36.1) and 14th in threes made per game (12.7), shooting 35.2% from beyond the arc (23rd). The Rockets also ranked 5th in both free throw attempts per game (23.4) and offensive rebounds per game (11.5).

Jalen Green and Alperen Sengün are key players for Houston this season. Green played all 82 games last year, averaging 19.6 points, 5.2 rebounds, and 3.5 assists per game. He is projected to lead the team in scoring, ranking 30th in our league-wide projections. Sengün, who averaged 21.1 points and 9.3 rebounds per game last season, is projected to be the 46th-ranked scorer in the league. Fred VanVleet is projected to lead the team in three-pointers made, ranking 19th in our league-wide projections, with Green projected 20th.

Hornets Team Defense

Last season, the Hornets allowed 116.8 points per game, ranking 22nd in the NBA, and we have them 21st in our defensive power rankings heading into this year. They struggled to defend the field, allowing opponents to shoot 49.6%, the second-highest percentage in the league. Charlotte also ranked 24th in three-point defense, with opponents hitting 37.5% from beyond the arc.

On the boards, the Hornets were 29th in defensive rebounding, and they’ll be without their top rebounder, Mark Williams. LaMelo Ball and Miles Bridges are strong rebounders for their positions. Charlotte averaged 4.5 blocks per game last season, ranking 25th in the NBA, and were also 25th in steals, with 6.9 per game.

Rockets Team Defense

Last season, the Hornets ranked 22nd in points allowed, giving up 116.8 per game, and we have them 21st in our defensive power rankings heading into this year. Charlotte allowed opponents to shoot 49.6% from the field, the second-highest percentage in the NBA, and they were 24th in three-point defense, allowing 37.5% shooting from beyond the arc.

On the boards, the Hornets ranked 29th in defensive rebounding, and they’ll be without center Mark Williams, their top rebounder and shot-blocker. LaMelo Ball and Miles Bridges are among the top rebounders at their positions, while Charlotte averaged 4.5 blocks per game last season, ranking 25th in the league.

Hornets vs Rockets Trends

  • Through their last five road contests, the Hornets offense has averaged 103 points per game while allowing an average of 120. Charlotte posted an overall record of 2-3 while going 2-3 ATS.
  • Through their last ten home contests, the Rockets offense has averaged 118 points per game while allowing an average of 114. Houston posted an overall record of 7-3 while going 6-4 ATS.
  • In their last five games as the betting underdog, the Hornets have a straight up record of 2-3 and an ATS mark of 3-2.
  • The Rockets have played well in their last five games as the betting favorite, going 4-1 straight up and 3-2 against the spread.

Hornets vs Rockets Prediction

We’re putting our money on the Rockets to win, and have the projected score sitting at 167-133. We also like them to cover the spread, so our recommendation is to bet on the Rockets at -6.5.

Regarding the over/under, the current line is set at 229.5, and our model predicts the Hornets and Rockets to score a combined 300 points. We recommend betting on the over.


All odds are courtesy of Action247 Sportsbook. Good luck!!


* All odds are provided by Action247 Sportsbook and all odds subject to change.**All views expressed are my own. My picks are my own and are not a guarantee, bet at your own risk.Action247 does not warrant the accuracy of completeness of the information, text, graphics, links or other items contained within these post.