New Orleans Pelicans vs. Charlotte Hornets Prediction, Preview, Picks & Odds - 3/21/2022

Time: 7 p.m. ET

Venue: Spectrum Center, Charlotte, NC

Where to watch: BSSE-CHA, BSNO

DraftKings: Check back later

BetMGM: Check back later

Caesars:  Check back later

Pelicans: 30-41

Hornets: 36-35

It does not appear that the New Orleans Pelicans will make the playoffs. They have fallen too far into a hole without Zion Williamson and now we're trying to rebuild their roster as is constructed with CJ McCollum leading the charge.

The good news, is that the play-in tournament is in play. And the Pelicans might be on their way.

McCollum led the way with twenty points on 8 of 19 shooting, and the Pelicans defeated the San Antonio Spurs 124-91 on Friday. Jaxson Hayes and Jonas Valanciunas had 16 points each and Herbert Jones added 13.

"We're proud of them," New Orleans coach Willie Green said. "Anytime you can come into this arena, this building with the history that's here no matter what Spurs team you play against, you know they are going to play hard, they are going to play together and they're not going to beat themselves. To come into this building and get a win is a huge confidence booster for us going forward.

We have to keep in mind that it is not just Williamson who is out for the foreseeable future. If the Pelicans were to get him back for the play in tournament, that would be incredible. But at the time of publishing, New Orleans is actually defeating the Atlanta Hawks in Atlanta. Should that result hold, that will have been two consecutive victories four New Orleans without leading scorer and All-Star Brandon Ingram. He is currently dealing with a hamstring injury.

Defeating the spurs on Saturday was one thing, because the spurs continue to find themselves further down the playoff tree as we go along. But a win over the Hawks, as it would be right now with the result held, is a very impressive victory especially having played one night prior.

I'm not saying New Orleans is a team that you would want to avoid in this last stretch, but I wouldn't take them lightly either.

Meanwhile as it pertains to the Charlotte Hornets, they're doing that thing again where they play really well, look bad for period of time, and then start winning again. Charlotte appears to be doing the latter of that again after defeating the Dallas Mavericks 129-108 on Saturday night.

Now to be fair Dallas was not at full strength. Spencer Dinwiddie did not play as he continues to be a catalyst for the Mavericks off the bench. Or starting at this point, depending on what preference you might have.

And Dallas was playing on the second night of a back to back after losing to the Philadelphia 76ers on Friday. So I don't want to completely crown Charlotte for taking care of business despite Luka Doncic going off for 37 points and not getting any help elsewhere.

But it was a fourth straight victory for the Hornets who got 23 points from Miles Bridges, and 21 points from PJ Washington. With 11 games to go in the regular season, it looks like Charlotte has kept a strong grip on the play-in round over the Washington Wizards. But they still trail the Brooklyn Nets by one game and lead the Atlanta Hawks by a half-game.

"We are playing well, we are playing hard and we are playing together and that's all I can ask for," Hornets coach James Borrego said. "... Right now we have to sustain it and keep our foot on the gas."

Said Bridges: "As long as we keep playing like this I think we're going to be good in the standings."

I would call this game very difficult to play. On one hand you have the red hot team that is establishing itself in the playoff race in the Eastern Conference. On the other hand, the Western Conference team is just trying to get into the play and tournament just to have a chance. And part of me feels that with New Orleans playing the second night of a back to back against a very good team, I think New Orleans is going to be in for a load of a rough time. I like Charlotte to not necessarily dominate, but to keep things at bay for the most part. Hornets by 12

The under is 21-8 when the Pelicans are a road underdog this season.

The Hornets are 31-19 ATS as a favorite the past three seasons.

PG: CJ McCollum

SG: Tony Snell

SF: Herbert Jones

PF: Jaxson Hayes

C: Jonas Valanciunas

PG: LaMelo Ball

SG: Terry Rozier

SF: Miles Bridges

PF: P.J. Washington

C: Mason Plumlee

Points: Brandon Ingram -- 22.8

Rebounds: Jonas Valanciunas -- 11.4

Assists: Brandon Ingram -- 5.5

Points: Miles Bridges -- 20.0

Rebounds: Mason Plumlee -- 8.0

Assists: LaMelo Ball -- 7.4