Charlotte Hornets - Portland Trail Blazers predictions and free betting tips [03/04/2024]

The Charlotte Hornets and the Portland Trail Blazers are set to clash this Thursday at the Spectrum Center.

Charlotte Hornets

The Hornets are experiencing a turbulent period in the current season, having suffered defeats in eight out of their last nine games. Recently, in a matchup against the Boston Celtics, they conceded a 118-104 defeat, which highlighted their defensive vulnerabilities. In this game, Miles Bridges contributed significantly with 26 points, 11 rebounds, and 8 assists, Grant Williams chipped in with 23 points, successfully completing 10 out of 16 attempted shots, and Brandon Miller aided the team with 19 points. Despite achieving a 45% shooting efficiency and successfully realising 13 out of 37 three-point attempts, their performance notably dwindled in the second quarter where they scored a mere 21 points and allowed their opponents to lead by 19 points towards the end of the third quarter.

The Hornets' struggles this season are reflected in their overall standings — a mere 18 victories to 57 losses. Frequent turnovers and fluctuating defensive stability were critical issues identified by head coach Steve Clifford. The team faced line-up reshuffling due to injury to key players, most notably, the foot injury to Nick Richards. However, the arrival of Grant Williams from Dallas and his impressive performances in March served as one of the few comforting news for the Hornets. These achievements, coupled with their previous win against Portland, inject a dash of optimism ahead of their upcoming meeting, although substantial improvement to both their offensive and defensive performances will be required to achieve success.

Portland Trail Blazers

The Trail Blazers are enduring tough times, with losses in 14 of their last 16 games, and currently in the midst of a ten-game losing streak. In their recent encounter with the Orlando Magic, they fell short with a score of 103-104, Dalano Banton scored 26 points with 5 assists, Deandre Ayton added 20 points, 12 rebounds and 3 assists, Jabari Walker scored 18 points, 9 rebounds and 5 assists, and Scoot Henderson contributed with 13 points, 8 rebounds, and 9 assists. The Trail Blazers registered a 44% shooting accuracy, and realised 11 out of 31 three-point attempts. Despite showings signs of resilience, and a 15 point deficit, they rallied in the fourth quarter and were close to turning the tide in the game, however, a missed shot by Ayton in the final moment left them without a win.

Portland's season record currently stands at a feeble 19 wins against 56 losses, encapsulating their struggle throughout the season. The string of consecutive losses became particularly conspicuous following a landslide 60-point defeat against the Miami Heat and continued with the recent loss to Orlando, where Ayton failed to convert the decisive shot. Regardless, Ayton and head coach Chauncey Billups' comments indicate their determination to fight on and learn from these challenging situations. Their defeat against the Hornets with a shooting efficiency of 34.7% and a mere 3 successful three-pointers out of 32 attempts underscores the severe attacking deficiencies that Portland must overcome to alter their current negative trajectory.

Match prediction: Charlotte Hornets - Portland Trail Blazers

The Portland Trail Blazers continue to be without Tounami Kamara, Anfernee Simons, and Jerami Grant, while the Charlotte Hornets will be missing Nick Richards due to a leg injury. Both teams are grappling with their standings toward the bottom of the league, making their current positions rather unstable. Despite the loss, Portland demonstrated competitiveness in their Monday match against the Orlando Magic, showing a resolve to fight till the finish. Although the Hornets are slight favourites on their home turf, there is a sense that the Trail Blazers could snatch a win, especially if Deandre Ayton or Dalano Banton delivers another splendid performance.