James Plowright: Hornets 129, Rockets 111
If you think Charlotte's 5-game losing streak is bad, it's nothing compared to Houston's current 11-game streak. Charlotte has been playing better of late, pushing Toronto, Boston, and Indiana in close games. Charlotte's strong run has been fueled by an offensive resurgence (10th over the past two weeks). In contrast, Houston has had the 30th-ranked defense over the past two weeks, which suggests to me Charlotte should pull this one out.
Ian Black: Hornets 126, Rockets 112
The Hornets are one of the worst teams in the league right now.