Charlotte Hornets vs New Orleans Pelicans Prediction & Picks - NBA

Prediction published on 3/30/25, 3:09 AM  by Paul Tamayo | Modified on 3/30/25 at 3:35 AM in NBA Picks

The Charlotte Hornets (18-55) visit the New Orleans Pelicans (20-54) on Sunday, March 30, 2025, at the Smoothie King Center.

With the Hornets obviously out of playoff contention, they pulled off the plug and announced that LaMelo Ball will miss the rest of the season. The star guard went through two separate procedures to address his ankle and wrist injuries. With Brandon Miller already sitting out, the Hornets are now without two of their best scorers.

The numbers don't lie, too. The Hornets are 2-24 without Ball this season. Their offensive rating to a lowly 105.2 when Ball doesn't play.

Meanwhile, the Pelicans also have their share of similar struggles. They have lost 10 of their last 13 games. Against the Hornets, they'll miss the services of Zion Williamson, Dejounte Murray, Herb Jones, CJ McCollum, and Trey Murphy III.

This game will be a tank-off, especially with so many key players sitting out. The Pelicans are missing their four best scorers, so they have to dig deep to find some offensive groove out there. 

The first time that the Pelicans and the Hornets faced each other this season, they only combined for 215 points. It's safe to say that offense will come and go in this game.