Philadelphia 76ers vs Charlotte Hornets, NBA 2024-25 Season, Today Match Prediction

Teams Preview

Philadelphia 76ers Preview

The 76ers are 5th in the Atlantic division and 15th in the Eastern Conference with a record of 1-7. In their last game against the Lakers, the Sixers lost by 27 points (106-116) while playing without two of their top three scorers, Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey. 

Paul George scored nine points for Philadelphia, which has lost five straight. Former league MVP Joel Embiid is serving a three-game suspension for shoving a reporter. He missed the game against the Lakers, which was his second game suspended. All-Star guard Tyrese Maxey missed his first game with a hamstring injury that will sideline him for at least two weeks.

Winning without Embiid and Maxey seems awfully difficult, and the Sixers couldn't play enough defense to stay competitive. Philadelphia erased an early 13-point deficit shortly before halftime, but the Lakers made an 8-0 run into the break and a 10-0 surge shortly after it to take charge.

For the upcoming match against the Charlotte Hornets, the 76ers will focus on perimeter defense, effectively guarding the three-point line to limit the Hornets' key shooting threats. 

Philadelphia will also capitalize on fast-break opportunities and consistent ball movement to create high-percentage shots. Utilizing Andre Drummond's inside presence gives the 76ers a major scoring advantage, exploiting Charlotte's relatively weaker defense in the paint.

The 76ers on average score 107 points per game, shooting 43.1% from the field (ranked 29th in the league) and 32.6% from the arc (ranked 26th in the league). Rebounds Per Game: 39.4 rebounds (ranked 30th in the league).

Charlotte Hornets Preview

The Hornets are 1st in the Southeast Division and 4th in the Eastern Conference with a record of 4-5. In their last game against the Pacers, the Hornets won by 15 points (103-83). LaMelo Ball scored 17 of his game-high 31 points in the fourth quarter. Brando Miller tied a career high with seven 3-pointers and had 29 points, and the Hornets overcame a 13-point deficit to beat the Pacers. Cody Martin added 15 points and Tre Mann had 14 off the bench. The Hornets have won two straight to improve to 4-5.

With Charlotte down by 13, the cold-shooting Ball exited the game with about six minutes remaining in the third quarter. Miller took over, putting the Hornets on his back. The second-year forward made five 3s and scored 17 points as Charlotte finished the quarter on a 23-2 run. As if the Hornets don't need any more injuries, forward Miles Bridges sat out with a bone bruise in his knee. Charlotte is already without centers Mark Williams and Nick Richards. Rookie Tidjane Salaun started for Bridges, becoming the second-youngest player in franchise history to start behind only Michael Kidd-Gilchrist.

For the upcoming match against the Philadelphia 76ers, the Hornets generally aim to counter the Philadelphia 76ers' size and defensive prowess by focusing on speed, spacing, and outside shooting. Key players like LaMelo Ball are integral to Charlotte's offense, as they provide playmaking and shooting that keep the 76ers' defense stretched, preventing them from focusing solely on the interior.

Defensively, the Hornets attempt to limit Embiid's touches near the basket by applying pressure on the ball and trying to force turnovers. The team sometimes deploys a zone defense to clog the paint and disrupt Philadelphia's inside game, although this can expose them to three-point shooting from the 76ers' shooters, such as Paul George. The Hornets will likely also focus on rebounding and containing Philadelphia's secondary scorers, hoping to disrupt the flow of the game and limit offensive rebounds.

The Hornets on average score 110.0 points per game, shooting 43.9% from the field (ranked 25th in the league) and 36.3% from the arc (ranked 10th in the league). They average 45.6 rebounds per game, ranking 10th in the season.

Philadelphia 76ers vs Charlotte Hornets Starting Lineups