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Trail Blazers vs. Hornets prediction and odds for NBA Summer League (Charlotte's Cruel Summer)

The Hornets have assembled a summer league team of wing scorers, the only problem is that none of them have been able to score.

By Josh Yourish

Charlotte Hornets forward Brandon Miller (24)
Charlotte Hornets forward Brandon Miller (24) / Darren Yamashita-USA TODAY Sports
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The Charlotte Hornets have Brandon Miller to showcase this summer, but adding the No. 2 overall pick hasn’t turned into any winning. They went 0-2 in Sacramento and are 0-2 in Vegas heading into this matchup with the Portland Trail Blazers.

Maybe, they would have a win or two if they had Scoot Henderson on their team, the No. 3 pick. Henderson has impressed, but is out with an injury for this matchup. 

Let’s take a look at the odds for the Trail Blazers and Hornets tonight in Vegas. 

Trail Blazers vs. Hornets odds, run line and total

Spread

  • Trail Blazers -5.5 (-110)
  • Hornets +5.5 (-110)

Moneyline

  • Rockets -215
  • Hornets +185

Total

  • 181.5 (Over -110 / Under -110)

Trail Blazers vs. Hornets prediction and pick

The Hornets have a lot of talented wing scorers on this summer league roster, or at least players that were expected to be talented wing scorers.

Brandon Miller led the team with 16 points last time out against the Spurs and he did it on 15 shots which was more efficient than James Bouknight who had 14 points on 18 shots.

Nick Smith Jr. finished with four points on 2-for-10 shooting and Amari Bailey went 3-for-9 for seven points. Bryce McGowens was the best, finishing with 15 points on 5-for-12 from the field. McGowens was 5-for-6 from the free throw line and those other four players went a combined 4-7. 

The Hornets look absolutely awful and I’m pretty sure that they’re wings and guards are going to take turns taking inefficient shots again and this will be another ugly offensive performance.

In their four games, 83 points is their best offensive performance and in that game against the Spurs they lost 76-68. 

Now, the Trail Blazers don’t have anybody like Victor Wembanyama patrolling the defensive end of the floor. That contributed a bit to Charlotte’s struggles, but they have been inefficient against everyone.

It would be great to see Scoot out there because the Summer League is starting to lose a lot of its big attractions either to injury or because their team is shutting them down after great performances.

However, Portland has Shaedon Sharpe who has been impressive and Kris Murray who isn’t his brother, but seems to contribute to winning in a Summer League setting. I’m just fading Charlotte no matter what, but with Scoot out, I’ll take the under in this one. 

Pick: Under 181.5 (-110)

Follow all Josh Yourish’s bets HERE

Game odds refresh periodically and are subject to change

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