Recent form is the story in Charlotte Hornets at New Orleans Pelicans on Thursday, March 18. The Hornets have won 3 of their last 5, while the Pelicans have won 0.
How the Win Meter reads
The Win Meter reads the Hornets 57%, with a projected score of Charlotte Hornets 116, New Orleans Pelicans 114. The rating gap is 150 points in favor of the Hornets, and home court and rest add about 100 rating points for the Pelicans on top of that.
Readings in this range leave plenty of room for the other side. About 43 times in 100 games like this, the Pelicans would win.
The recent-form gap
The Hornets are 3-1 this season and 3-2 in their last 5 games, with an average margin of -11.8. The Pelicans are 0-3 this season and 0-5 in their last 5 games, with an average margin of -8.4.
The Hornets were beaten 128-81 at home by ATL not long ago.
The Pelicans were beaten 144-118 on the road by BOS not long ago.
Offense against defense
The Hornets score 104 a game and allow 111. The Pelicans score 124.7 and allow 128. Pairing each offense with the other defense points to about 116 for the Hornets and 117.9 for the Pelicans, a simple check on the Win Meter's projection.
The Pelicans have been tough to score on, which should slow the Hornets.
The Pelicans should find points against the Hornets' defense, which has been giving up 111.
Injuries to watch
Out: Coby White (CHA), expected back Oct 31, 2026, Kon Knueppel (CHA), expected back Oct 31, 2026, Grant Williams (CHA), expected back Oct 31, 2026, Kylan Boswell (CHA), expected back Nov 2, 2026, and Yves Missi (NOP), expected back Nov 2, 2026.
The season series
In our records of recent meetings, the series is even, with the Hornets outscoring the Pelicans by an average of 7.5 points per game. The last meeting was NOP 95, CHA 102.