San Antonio Spurs vs Charlotte Hornets 3/5/22: Starting Lineups, Matchup Preview, Betting Odds, Predictions
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San Antonio Spurs vs. Charlotte Hornets Matchup Preview (3/5/22)
Two of the fastest teams in the NBA will go head-to-head when the San Antonio Spurs fly to Charlotte to challenge the Hornets. Charlotte has not played very well on either side of the floor but was able to break free of its struggles against the tough Cleveland Cavaliers in its last game. Terry Rozier played exceptionally well in that game, and if the Hornets can get output like that from him every game, they could be a tough “out” in the play-in games. For the Hornets to be a more consistent team, they have to focus on the defensive end; shooting well is not a constant, even for an offensive-minded NBA team.
The San Antonio Spurs made a somewhat surprising trade before the deadline when they moved on from Derrick White and acquired a first-round pick in return. This was by no means a bad trade, but White had shown some promise for a scrappy Spurs team. It is clear that the team is building around Dejounte Murray, who has been a bright spot for the Spurs in an otherwise rough season. See below who I have winning this game and covering the spread under the betting odds section!
San Antonio Spurs vs. Charlotte Hornets Betting Odds
I like the Charlotte Hornets in this spot. Charlotte has not played well recently, dropping five of its past six before breaking out of its slump against Cleveland. This momentum should continue against a Spurs team that plays a similar style of basketball. The Hornets have more talent and depth, and as long as they shoot halfway decently, they should win this game by at least four or five points at home. For the point total, I will be eyeing the over. These two teams play fast enough that I can’t imagine the score being less than a combined 239 points. Anything lower than that, and I will take the over.
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How To Watch
Date: 3/5/22
Time: 7:00 PM ET
Arena: Spectrum Center – Charlotte, NC
Channel: NBA League Pass
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San Antonio Spurs Starting Lineup
PG: Dejounte Murray
SG: Devin Vassell
SF: Doug McDermott
PF: Keldon Johnson
C: Jakob Poeltl
San Antonio Spurs Analysis
I’m pretty stunned that the San Antonio Spurs have managed to win 24 games this season with their roster. This is not supposed to be a negative comment, but they have many younger guys who still need to develop and gain experience. Part of the reason for San Antonio’s success is that it leans heavily into what it is good at, which is running in transition and playing at a fast pace. It is no surprise that the Spurs are fourth in the NBA in pace with a backcourt like Dejounte Murray, Lonnie Walker, Devin Vassell, and Derrick White (before they traded him to the Boston Celtics.) Still, Gregg Popovich is a phenomenal coach and you never know where he can take this team a few years down the road.
Charlotte Hornets Starting Lineup
PG: LaMelo Ball
SG: Terry Rozier
SF: Miles Bridges
PF: P.J. Washington
C: Mason Plumlee
Charlotte Hornets Analysis
The Charlotte Hornets were finally able to re-direct their momentum in a positive direction on Wednesday when they beat the Cleveland Cavaliers by 21 points on the road. Even more impressive is that LaMelo Ball played merely eight minutes in that game. They were back to shooting at an elite level, including roughly 51% from the field and 45% behind the arc. Very few teams can beat the Hornets when they play like this and even fewer when they hold their opponent to under 100 points. San Antonio almost plays as fast as Charlotte, which I think favors the Hornets; they have more talent and depth than the Spurs, and the law of averages should win out. Assuming the Hornets play similarly to Wednesday night, I like them in this spot.
San Antonio Spurs vs. Charlotte Hornets Daily Fantasy Picks
The hottest player for the San Antonio Spurs right now is Lonnie Walker, who has absolutely exploded over the past six games. Walker has posted averages of 20.3 points on 52% from the field and 38% from behind the arc during that span. When you combine efficient shooting with his incredulous athleticism, then this is the result that you get. Walker has been a sporadic player this season, with highly volatile minutes and scoring output, but he seems to have found his rhythm recently. I would highly consider riding his hot streak at the moment, especially against a team like the Charlotte Hornets, who struggle so much on the defensive end of the floor.
Terry Rozier is a player for the Charlotte Hornets that you will want to watch for this slate of games. Rozier provides volume scoring for a Hornets team that loves to get out in transition and shoot threes. He is a perfect complementary player in the Hornets’ backcourt to LaMelo Ball, who loves to be a pass-first point guard. On the season, Rozier has averaged right around 19 points, four rebounds, and four assists; however, he has had some incredibly explosive games recently with 35, 33, and 29 points. In his last game, Rozier finished with 29 points, seven rebounds, and seven assists, which would make him incredibly valuable if you play him in the right game. This is a terrific matchup for Rozier!
An honorary mention for a DFS recommendation is the San Antonio Spurs’ starting center, Jakob Poeltl. Whenever a team plays against the Charlotte Hornets, plugging their center into your DFS lineup almost becomes necessary. Not to mention, Poeltl has had some massive games recently. In his past four games, he has averaged 19.3 points, 11.8 rebounds, 5.3 assists, and 1.3 blocks per game on an astonishing 73.5% from the floor. That type of efficiency will always result in big nights, and if he keeps that up against the Charlotte Hornets, then a 20-20 game is not inconceivable at all. It probably makes sense to plug Poeltl and Walker into your DFS lineup for this fast-paced matchup!
