Tonight, the Knicks (48*-25) visit the Hornets (38-34) at Spectrum Center. New York has won seven straight, including Tuesday’s 121-116 victory over the Pelicans. Meanwhile, Charlotte went 7-3 over their last 10 and is riding a strong home stretch with a four-game win streak on the line. Expect a spicy one tonight!

New York leads the season series 2-0. The teams last met December 3, 2025, with the Knicks winning 119-104 at Madison Square Garden. Karl-Anthony Towns led New York with a 35-point, 18-rebound double-double, while the Hornets were paced by LaMelo Ball with 32 points. They’ll next meet in the final game of the season, on April 12.

Charles Lee’s Hornets boast one of the better offenses in the league, ranking 4th in offensive rating while posting a solid 12th in defensive rating. They score 116.4 points per game and allow 111.8, giving them the league’s sixth-best net rating.

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Ball (19.7 PPG, 7.1 APG) orchestrates the attack and Brandon Miller (20.3 PPG, 39% 3PT) provides scoring punch and floor spacing. Miles Bridges (17.2 PPG, 5.9 RPG) is still a bully, while rookie Kon Knueppel (probable with back soreness) adds sizzling shooting. Expected starters tonight are likely Ball, Miller, Knueppel, Bridges, and Moussa Diabaté (8.2 PPG, 8.8 RPG).

On the injury report, New York lists Miles McBride (ankle) and Landry Shamet (knee) as OUT. The Hornets have Tidjane Salaun (calf) OUT, with Pat Connaughton (illness) questionable.

Prediction

ESPN win probability sits around 51% for the Knicks. Basically a toss up. These Hornets are a tough out at home with their offensive firepower and recent momentum. They take the second-most shots from downtown and are the league’s third-best shooting team from there. Will New York’s Wingstop meet the challenge? We shall see. Expect our heroes to face early trouble from Charlotte’s spacing and longballs. It’s hard to envision the Knicks winning all four games of the regular season series, and this one certainly does look like a toss up. The fact that New York has only played two overtime games this season caught my eye, too. Something tells me this could be the third. Knicks by one in a thriller.

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Game Details

Who: New York Knicks (48*-25) vs Charlotte Hornets (38-34)
Date: Thursday, March 26, 2026
Time: 7 PM ET
Place: Spectrum Center, Charlotte, NC
TV: MSG
Follow: @ptknicksblog and bsky

* Should be one more, but NBA Cups scoff at record keeping.