Pick details
| MATCHUP | Atlanta Hawks | Charlotte Hornets |
|---|---|---|
| Team Records | 1-0 | 1-0 |
| Spread | -2.5 -112 | +2.5 -108 |
| Moneyline | -142 | +120 |
| Total | Over 225.5 (-110) | Under 225.5 (-110) |
| Where | Spectrum Center, Charlotte, NC | |
| When | Friday, October 23, 2026 | |
| Time | 07:00 PM EDT | |
| TV | NBA League Pass | |
The Atlanta Hawks invade the Spectrum Center to take on the Charlotte Hornets on Friday night.
Atlanta Hawks Betting Preview
The Atlanta Hawks will be aiming for a second straight victory after taking down the Magic in a hard fought 132-125 road win on Wednesday. Nickeil Alexander-Walker led the team in scoring with 31 points on eight of 15 shooting, Jalen Johnson and Dyson Daniels each scored 20 points while CJ McCollum chipped in with 19 points on seven of nine shooting. As a team, the Hawks shot 49 percent from the field and 14 of 36 from the 3-point line as they exploded for 44 points in the second quarter to take an early 14-point lead, but they allowed the Magic back into the contest and didn’t regain control until 1:27 left in the fourth quarter where Alexander-Walker drained a clutch 3-pointer to start to pull away.
Charlotte Hornets Betting Preview
Meanwhile, the Charlotte Hornets are also gunning for a second straight win after outlasting the pesky Nets in a 110-103 road win on opening night. Grayson Allen led the team in scoring with 21 points off the bench, Naz Reid tallied 20 points with 11 rebounds and seven assists in his debut while Brandon Miller chipped in with 18 points. As a team, the Hornets shot 44 percent from the field and just 15 of 48 from the 3-point line as they battled with the Nets in a close contest that could’ve gone either way, until early in the fourth quarter where the Hornets went on a pivotal 6-0 run to reclaim the lead for good.
Atlanta v Charlotte Free Prediction
The Hawks will again be missing Henri Veesaar and Mouhamed Gueye, while the Hornets have again ruled out Grant Williams, Coby White, Kon Knueppel and Kylan Boswell. The Hawks almost let a lead slip in their last game against the Magic and you could say the same about the Hornets who had trouble taking down the lowly Nets in their last outing. It’s hard to be too confident backing either side in this contest, but the Hornets are still so banged up right now and I think this is a good spot for the Hawks to take advantage at the short line.
Peter Tran's Pick: Atlanta -2.5
