New York Knicks at Charlotte Hornets on Friday, March 26 is about as close to a coin flip as the ratings get, with the Knicks at only 54%. Small things like rest, health and shooting variance should decide it.
Why it is so close
The Win Meter reads the Knicks 54%, with a projected score of New York Knicks 115, Charlotte Hornets 114. The rating gap is 130 points in favor of the Knicks, and home court and rest add about 100 rating points for the Hornets on top of that.
Readings in this range leave plenty of room for the other side. About 46 times in 100 games like this, the Hornets would win.
Recent form
The Knicks are 0-3 this season and 2-3 in their last 5 games, with an average margin of -2.8. The Hornets are 3-1 this season and 3-2 in their last 5 games, with an average margin of -11.8.
The Hornets were beaten 128-81 at home by ATL not long ago.
Offense against defense
The Knicks score 101.7 a game and allow 108. The Hornets score 104 and allow 111. Pairing each offense with the other defense points to about 106.4 for the Knicks and 106 for the Hornets, a simple check on the Win Meter's projection.
The Hornets have been tough to score on, which should slow the Knicks.
Injuries to watch
Out: Jose Alvarado (NYK), expected back Oct 28, 2026, Coby White (CHA), expected back Oct 31, 2026, Kon Knueppel (CHA), expected back Oct 31, 2026, Grant Williams (CHA), expected back Oct 31, 2026, and Kylan Boswell (CHA), expected back Nov 2, 2026.
The season series
In our records of recent meetings, the Knicks lead 4-3, with the Knicks outscoring the Hornets by an average of 3.7 points per game. The last meeting was CHA 110, NYK 96.