Keagan Smith dives into his pick and prediction for the Charlotte Hornets vs. Atlanta Hawks game on Saturday’s 10-game NBA slate.

Saturday’s NBA slate is a pretty big one, and there are numerous intriguing matchups on deck after the trade deadline earlier this week. The Atlanta Hawks and Charlotte Hornets both made some moves, and tonight could see some acquisitions take the floor for their new teams for the first time. Beyond that, Charlotte is up to eight straight wins and is chasing a double-digit streak as it seeks to turn its season around.

Here’s a Hornets vs. Hawks prediction and pick on DraftKings Sportsbook for Saturday’s game.

Hornets vs. Hawks prediction, preview

Charlotte Hornets

Typically, the Hornets operate near the bottom of the league standings in a perpetual rebuild. While they’re still just 10th in the Eastern Conference at the moment at 24-28, there’s suddenly an influx of hope in Charlotte as this team has rattled off eight consecutive victories, including some huge ones over the Spurs and Rockets in that span.

The Hornets fall 24th in pace and (surprisingly) 12th in the league in NETRTG at +2.0. They post 115.8 PPG (15th), shooting 54.1% from two (19th) and 37.0% from three (fifth). The latter stat is particularly important as they produce the fifth-most 3PA and third-most 3PM per game as well. Charlotte also averages 26.5 assists (13th) with the 24th-ranked AST/TO ratio. On the other side of the ball, the Hornets allow 113.9 PPG (11th) with rebounding a particular strong suit — they’re fifth in boards per game with 46.0.

The Hornets had a somewhat busy trade deadline, shipping out Collin Sexton and picks for Coby White, who will be sidelined for a while with a calf strain. While they wait for the new addition to debut, though, this team will continue to lean on the players who have fueled this surge. Brandon Miller paces the roster with 20.4 PPG as the primary scorer, but LaMelo Ball is close behind with 18.8 points and 7.5 assists per game. Rookie standout Kon Knueppel posts 18.8 PPG on a blazing 42.4% from three, and Miles Bridges produces 18.3 PPG as another scoring option. Big men Ryan Kalkbrenner and Moussa Diabate lead the roster with 6.1 and 8.5 boards per game, too.

Atlanta Hawks

Meanwhile, the Hawks are just one spot ahead in the standings at ninth in the Eastern Conference. The 26-27 record doesn’t exactly spark a ton of confidence either, but they’ve won back-to-back games after a recent slump and made moves at the deadline to try and add some much-needed help. Swapping an oft-sidelined Kristaps Porzingis for Jonathan Kuminga and Buddy Hield does add a younger frontcourt talent with upside and a known commodity as a shooter to this rotation.

Atlanta comes in at second in pace with a -0.8 NETRTG, 19th in the NBA. There are some positives for this team, such as an offense generating 117.5 PPG (eighth) with efficient marks of 55.1% from two (13th) and 37.0% from three (sixth). The Hawks also average 30.8 assists per contest, tops in the league with the second-best AST/TO ratio and AST/FGM ratio as well. However, they’re not nearly as effective on the other side of the court. Atlanta concedes 118.3 PPG (24th) and largely struggles on the boards despite having a couple of excellent rebounders, pulling down just 42.4 per game (25th).

The obvious standout for the Hawks is Jalen Johnson, a legitimate candidate for Most Improved Player with 23.2 points, 10.6 rebounds and 8.2 assists per game. He’s a do-it-all forward and complemented nicely by Nickeil Alexander-Walker, who’s also posting a career-best 20.4 PPG. CJ McCollum has averaged 17.8 PPG since his arrival in Atlanta in the Trae Young trade, and Onyeka Okongwu posts 16.3 points with 7.9 boards per contest. Dyson Daniels, Zaccharie Risacher and Corey Kispert all average double-digit points, too. Beyond them, though, new acquisition Jock Landale adds frontcourt depth and popped for 26 points and 11 boards in his debut.

Hornets vs. Hawks pick, best bet

DraftKings Sportsbook lists the Hornets as -2.5 road favorites tonight with -142 odds on the Moneyline. The Hawks are +120 ML underdogs with the game total set at 231.5 points. Betting splits show 72% of straight wagers on Charlotte to win with 68% picking the under on the total.

Here’s a note on the Hornets before we make the pick. Since January 1, they’re 13-6 with some impressive underlying metrics as well, including the NBA’s best NETRTG at +11.2; the highest OFFRTG in the league and fourth-best DEFRTG; the top REB%; and even the fifth-best TS%. This team looks simply elite since the new year began with a cleaner slate of health, and they’re honestly winning games handily rather than skating by. It’s simply tough to pick against them with this level of momentum on their side.

The Hawks have plenty of talent and could integrate Hield into the lineup as well, but he’s questionable (trade pending) alongside Okongwu (dental fracture). Kuminga remains out with a knee issue, too.

This should be a competitive game regardless of their statuses, but Charlotte simply looks too good right now to lose. I’m comfortable taking the Hornets to win outright and cover, and the over is a line I’m strongly considering too.

Top pick: CHA Hornets -2.5 (-108)