Warriors vs Hornets

Stephen Curry and the Warriors come into Charlotte having won four of their last five, pushing back over .500 at 17-16, while the 11-21 Hornets are just 5-5 in their last 10 and recently had their mini-surge cooled at home. With Golden State close to full strength aside from Seth Curry’s thigh absence and leaning on a veteran core of Curry, Jimmy Butler III and Draymond Green, they face a Hornets group missing multiple rotation pieces up front (Mason Plumlee, Ryan Kalkbrenner) and on the wing (Grant Williams out, Miles Bridges and Pat Connaughton banged up), forcing heavy creation loads on LaMelo Ball and Brandon Miller. The Warriors have also dominated this matchup, winning the last five meetings by an 18-point average, and their superior late-game shotmaking plus Charlotte’s negative scoring differential tilt this spot strongly toward Golden State on the moneyline; at -278 the price is rich but still reasonable for parlay anchors or larger bankroll plays, so I grade Warriors ML a solid B for strong win probability but only medium monetary value. Odds and availability are subject to change. This bet was made at 31/12/2025 09:37. ([espn.com](https://www.espn.com/nba/recap/_/gameId/401810304?utm_source=openai))

LaMelo Ball’s Hornets have been playing faster and more perimeter-heavy, averaging around 115.5 points scored and 118.5 allowed with top-five three-point volume, and recent games have featured big numbers even before accounting for their current frontcourt injuries that further weaken rim protection and defensive rebounding. On the other side, Golden State’s offense has surged toward the high teens in points per game over the last 10 behind Curry’s five threes a night and Butler’s relentless pressure on the paint and free-throw line, while their defense has been solid but not lockdown and will be tested by Charlotte’s stretch forwards and shooters like Brandon Miller and Kon Knueppel. Given both teams’ recent 10-game scoring profiles, their combined three-point attempts (Warriors first in made threes, Hornets near the top as well), and the likelihood of smaller lineups with Mason Plumlee and Kalkbrenner sidelined, this matchup projects as a game where 240+ is well within reach when shots fall, so I lean Over 233.5 at -110 with a B- grade because the number is already aggressive but still offers decent upside in a projected shootout. Odds and availability are subject to change. This bet was made at 31/12/2025 09:37. ([thescore.com](https://www.thescore.com/nba/events/2448199?utm_source=openai))

Jimmy Butler and Golden State look well-positioned to cover the -6.5 given their four-wins-in-five stretch that includes a comfortable 13-point road win in Brooklyn and three straight double-digit victories over quality opponents, while Charlotte’s recent .500 form has come with a -3.0 average scoring margin and now a longer injury list. The Warriors have taken the last five meetings from the Hornets by an 18-point average, and this version adds Butler’s bully-ball scoring and playmaking to Curry’s shot-making and a savvy frontcourt featuring Al Horford and Draymond Green, which should consistently pressure a Hornets interior missing Plumlee and Kalkbrenner and relying heavily on Moussa Diabate and young wings. With LaMelo Ball, Miller and Knueppel capable of keeping Charlotte competitive for stretches but forced to shoulder heavy usage amid lingering questions around Miles Bridges’ ankle and overall depth, a result in the 8–12 point range for Golden State feels more common than a one-possession finish, so Warriors -6.5 at -110 earns a B grade for combining a meaningful edge with a standard vig payout. Odds and availability are subject to change. This bet was made at 31/12/2025 09:37. ([espn.com](https://www.espn.com/nba/recap/_/gameId/401810304?utm_source=openai))