Hornets vs 76ers Picks and Prediction – 12/21/2024

The Friday NBA schedule will tip off with a matchup between the Charlotte Hornets and the Philadelphia 76ers from the Spectrum Center. For other NBA action see our NBA Predictions. The Hornets (7-20) have dropped ten of their first 12 road games and are tied with Toronto for the second worst record in the Eastern Conference. Last night, Charlotte was outscored by eight points during the fourth quarter of a 123-114 road loss against lowly Washington.

Charlotte G LaMelo Ball led all scorers with 34 points on an inefficient 11-for-32 from the field and dished out 13 assists. Mark Williams and Miles Bridges added 16 points apiece for the Hornets, who missed 35 of 43 three-point attempts. 

The Philadelphia 76ers have won six of their last ten games and trail Detroit by 1.5 games for tenth place in the Eastern Conference standings. The 76ers (8-16) rank near the bottom of the league in offensive efficiency and are averaging 105.9 points per contest. On Monday, Philadelphia outscored Charlotte by 11 points during the third quarter to pull away for a 121-108 road victory. 

All-Star G Tyrese Maxey erupted for a game-high 40 points on 12-for-28 shooting and pulled down five boards. Paul George knocked down 6-for-9 from the three-point line and finished with 33 points. Kelly Oubre Jr. added 19 points and nine rebounds for the 76ers, who shot 51 percent from the field.

Philadelphia C Joel Embiid suffered a sinus fracture and will be re-evaluated sometime this week. The 76ers will play faster with Embiid sidelined and the Hornets rank 20th in the league in defensive efficiency. Look for Philadelphia to get the job done at home in a game that goes over the total. Final Score Prediction, Philadelphia 76ers win 119-109.