Atlanta Hawks vs Charlotte Hornets Prediction & Picks - NBA

Prediction published on 12/18/25, 3:56 PM  by Carlos Zabala in NBA Picks

Even without Collin Sexton and LaMelo Ball, the Hornets secured an excellent victory at Rocket Arena, defeating the Cavaliers, despite Charlotte's heavy underdog status in the betting odds. On Thursday, the Hornets aim to win two consecutive games for the first time in December when they host the Hawks at the Spectrum Center.

Despite the absence of Porzingis and Trae Young, the Hawks discovered another formidable player in Jalen Johnson. Atlanta's number one jersey has had a phenomenal season and contributed a triple-double: 12 points, 10 rebounds, and 12 assists in the Hawks' 120-117 victory over the 76ers on December 14. Incredibly, it was Jalen Johnson's fourth consecutive triple-double, more than proving his worth as a first-round draft pick, and only an average of 8.2 assists per game prevents him from averaging a triple-double per game, as Jokic would.

Furthermore, against Philadelphia for Atlanta, Onyeka Okongwu was key, contributing five three-pointers and earning praise from his coach Quin Snyder, who even seems to be encouraging him to take more three-point shots.