New York Knicks vs. Charlotte Hornets Matchup Preview (11/12/2021)
By Max Heering
On Friday, the 7-5 New York Knicks will be playing the 6-7 Charlotte Hornets at the Spectrum Center in Charlotte, North Carolina. The Knicks are coming off a 112-100 loss to the now .500 Milwaukee Bucks. Derrick Rose led the Knicks in scoring with 22 points and threw in seven assists off the bench. However, the Knicks starters could not put the ball in the hoop and scored only 32 combined points. In addition, the Knicks struggled on the boards and were outrebounded 50-38.
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The Charlotte Hornets started the season hot with a 5-2 record. They lost their next five games but beat the Grizzlies 118-108 on the road in their last game. Kelly Oubre Jr. was an animal in that game and scored 37 points off the bench. Gordon Hayward also had a strong game with 25 points. The Hornets went 15/36 from behind the three-point line and 21-24 from the free-throw line.
Knicks vs. Hornets Predictions
The Knicks have come down to earth after a solid start. They are still very good, but not as good as Knicks fans touted at the beginning of the season. Nevertheless, they have a strong defense and a deep roster with a lot of veterans. The Hornets, on the other hand, have an electric and young offense led by LaMelo Ball and Miles Bridges but do not play much defense.
The differences between these two teams are noticeable. These differences will make for an interesting game. Even though the Knicks are playing on the road, I expect them to squeak out the win against the fast-paced Hornets. The Hornets are still figuring out how to string together some wins, and the Knicks seem to have a better handle on that. Bet on the Knicks.