Wizards vs. Hornets Prediction, NBA Odds & Best Bets (10/26)

Fact checked at 8:09 AM ET, Oct 26, 2026

Odds as of 7:39 AM ET, Oct 26, 2026

Two 2-1 teams meet at Spectrum Center for a 7:00 PM ET tip, and Charlotte is still short-handed. Kon Knueppel (hamstring) and Coby White (calf) haven't played this season and are out again on the league's injury report, along with Grant Williams (hamstring). The Hornets beat Brooklyn 110-103 and Miami 115-110, but in between they lost 128-81 at home to Atlanta. Washington beat Milwaukee 128-116, lost 112-102 to Toronto and won 124-120 in Chicago in its last game, with Trae Young and Anthony Davis starting all three. The Wizards are without AJ Dybantsa (ankle), Tristan Vukcevic (hip) and Jamir Watkins (knee), and none of them has played yet either.

Charlotte is a 1.5-point favorite (-114), with Washington +1.5 at -106. On the moneyline it's Hornets -125, Wizards +105.

Our read is that the Hornets, without Knueppel and White, don't have the offense to pull away. Washington's starters carry the load, Bilal Coulibaly gets his usual 10-plus, Brandon Miller has another inefficient night, and the Wizards win or lose by no more than a point. All three picks cash in that game.

Wizards vs. Hornets Predictions

• Pick #1: Wizards +1.5 (-106)
• Pick #2: Brandon Miller Under 24.5 Points (-121)
• Pick #3: Bilal Coulibaly Over 9.5 Points (-118)

PICK #1: Wizards +1.5 (-106)

Charlotte is averaging 102.0 points through three games. The 81 against Atlanta drags that down, but 110 in Brooklyn and 115 against Miami weren't big nights either. The Hornets have started Dennis Schroder, Sion James, Miller, Naz Reid and Moussa Diabate every game, and James has scored 3, 3 and 0. That leaves three or four players carrying most of the offense.

Washington has put up 128, 102 and 124, an average of 118.0. Young has 20, 22 and 25 points with 13, 12 and 9 assists, and Kyshawn George has added 18, 11 and 22. Neither defense has been any good: the Wizards allow 116.0 a game and the Hornets 113.7, each over three games.

All +1.5 asks is that Washington win or lose by one. The Wizards would have covered it twice in three tries, beating Milwaukee by 12 and Chicago by four, and missed only in the 10-point loss to Toronto. The -106 price implies a 51.5% chance, and a few books are dealing Washington +2.5 if you want to shop.

What beats this is Charlotte at home on a night its scorers get hot. Miller scored 34 and Schroder 25 in the win over Miami, and any Hornets win by two or more loses the ticket.

PICK #2: Brandon Miller Under 24.5 Points (-121)

This line is five points above what Miller has averaged. He's at 19.3 a game on 19-of-64 shooting, including 7-of-35 from three. He went 7-of-21 for 18 in Brooklyn and 2-of-14 for 6 against Atlanta, then scored 34 against Miami, but that took 29 shots and 11-of-12 at the line.

He has taken a big share of Charlotte's shots with Knueppel and White out, and he hasn't made many of them. If he shoots anything like the first two games, the Under is in good shape. He's stayed under 24.5 in two of three, and -121 implies a 54.8% chance.

Volume is the worry. He's played 36 minutes in two of the three games, and on a roster this thin another 29-shot night is possible. If his three-pointer starts falling, he can get to 25.

PICK #3: Bilal Coulibaly Over 9.5 Points (-118)

Coulibaly scored 11 on 4-of-6 shooting against Milwaukee, 11 on 3-of-8 with 4-of-4 at the line against Toronto and 7 on 3-of-6 in Chicago. He's cleared 9.5 in two of three, and he's played 29, 26 and 25 minutes, starting every time. At -118, the implied probability is 54.1%.

He's projected to start again next to Young, George, Davis and Alex Sarr, the same five that started every game so far. He's made half his shots. If Washington's offense is doing its part, 10 points from a starter getting 25-plus minutes isn't much to ask.

The catch is that he doesn't shoot often: 6, 8 and 6 attempts. One cold stretch leaves him at 7 again, as it did in Chicago. Tre Johnson and Justin Champagnie also take wing minutes off the bench, and Johnson scored 20 against Toronto.

21+ (18+ where permitted). Odds subject to change. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, call 1-800-GAMBLER.