Washington Wizards at Charlotte Hornets
Spectrum Center
Washington Wizards +5.5-106
CONF 72%
LLostFinal 109-126
The read
TALE OF THE TAPE
Charlotte Washington Record 9-20 ← 5-22 Off Rating 112.1 ← 110.8 Def Rating 116.1 ← 120.7 Net Rating -4.1 ← -9.9 Key Injuries Sexton (DBT) Whitmore (OUT)
Gary's Take Don't let the records fool you—this is arguably the best situational spot of the week for the Washington Wizards. We have a classic "schedule loss" scenario for the Charlotte Hornets, who are playing on the second night of a back-to-back after an exhausting 139-132 track meet against Cleveland last night. Meanwhile, Washington has been resting since Saturday, giving them a massive energy advantage that often decides games between two lottery-bound teams.
Beyond the fatigue, Charlotte's roster is decimated where it matters most: the paint. With Grant Williams out for the season and both Mason Plumlee and Ryan Kalkbrenner dealing with recent injuries, the Hornets have virtually no interior defense. This sets up perfectly for Washington's Alex Sarr (18.9 PPG), who has the size and athleticism to feast inside against an undersized Moussa Diabate or a tired Miles Bridges playing out of position.
Statistically, the Wizards actually hold the edge in two critical "Four Factors" categories: effective field goal percentage (55.9% vs. 54.2%) and turnover rate. CJ McCollum and Bub Carrington should be able to control the tempo against a weary LaMelo Ball, who played heavy minutes last night. While Washington's defense is porous, Charlotte's tired legs will make it hard for them to cover this number. I'll take the points with the rested road dog, and I wouldn't be shocked if they win outright.
Give me Washington +5.5 to keep this close or steal it.
Injuries noted
Washington Wizards: Cam Whitmore (Out) — Dec 22: Whitmore (shoulder) has been ruled out for Tuesday's game against the Hornets.; Marvin Bagley III (Day-To-Day) — Dec 22: Bagley (calf) is questionable to play Tuesday versus the Hornets.; Bilal Coulibaly (Questionable) — Dec 22: Coulibaly (ankle) is questionable for Tuesday's game in Charlotte.
Charlotte Hornets: Ryan Kalkbrenner (Questionable) — Dec 23: Kalkbrenner (elbow) will not play Monday against the Cavaliers.; Mason Plumlee (Questionable) — Dec 22: Plumlee has been ruled out for the remainder of Monday's game against the Cavaliers due to right groin soreness. He'll finish the night with five points (2-4 FG, 1-1 FT) and five rebounds in 10 minutes.; Collin Sexton (Doubtful) — Dec 22: Sexton (quadriceps) has been ruled out for Monday's game against Cleveland.; Grant Williams (Out) — Dec 13: Williams (knee) has been ruled out for Sunday's game against Cleveland.
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- Board stored December 23, 2025 at 9:10 AM ET.
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Props on this game
2Miles BridgesOVER 20.5 Pts Pts-110
LActual 10
Miles Bridges is going to have a field day against this Washington defense tonight. The Wizards have been giving up points like they’re going out of style, especially to athletic wings who can attack the basket with power.
With Washington lacking a real anchor in the middle right now, Bridges should be able to bully his way into the paint and get high-percentage looks all night long. He’s been seeing a massive amount of volume lately, and in a game that’s expected to be a high-paced track meet, he’s a clear focal point for the scoring attack.
I expect him to blow past this number because he's simply too physical for anyone the Wizards can throw at him. It’s a perfect matchup for his skill set given how much Washington struggles to stop transition scoring and easy buckets in the paint.
C.J. McCollumOVER 17.5 Pts Pts-120
LActual 14
C.J. McCollum is stepping into a great situation tonight where he should have the ultimate green light to score. He’s one of the most polished scorers in the game, and when he gets into a high-paced environment against a team that doesn't prioritize perimeter defense, he usually takes over.
With the current rotation lacking some of its usual depth, the offensive workload is going to fall squarely on his shoulders to keep the scoreboard moving. I’ve watched him time and again find his rhythm in the midrange, and I think he’ll find plenty of open space tonight against a defense that struggles to close out on veteran shooters. The flow of this game is going to be fast and loose, giving him more than enough shot attempts to reach this total comfortably.
Expect C.J. to be aggressive early and often as the primary engine for the offense.
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