The Charlotte Hornets host the Utah Jazz at Spectrum Center on Wednesday.
Utah (5-3) got off to a rough start, but have rebounded by winning four of their last five. The key for the Jazz has been their defense, as they rank second in points allowed. The return of Gordon Hayward has only made Utah more scary, as he has put in two great performances in his first two games. A secret killer for this team in their lights out three-point shooting, as they rank second in percentage, despite ranking 23rd in points scored. The percentage is the more important number here, as the Jazz play at a snail-like pace, thus bringing down their points per game average.
Charlotte (5-1) was a big surprise last season, but look even better this year. The defense has been incredible, as the Hornets rank top-six in both rebounds and points allowed. The concern is the lack of competition, as those wins have come against teams like the Milwaukee Bucks, Miami Heat, Philadelphia 76ers and Brooklyn Nets. Their play shouldn’t be overlooked though, with three of their wins coming by a double-digit margin. Kemba Walker continues to improve as well, as he is leading the team with 24.3 points and 5.5 assists a game.
Look for this to be a low-scoring game, with Vegas releasing a total in the 195 range. The Hornets will also likely be a small favorite, defending one of the toughest homecourts in the league.
