Hornets vs. Pacers Picks and Prediction for Thursday, February 26, 2026
Use Code WWWC On Thursday, the Charlotte Hornets will take on the Indiana Pacers at Gainbridge Fieldhouse, and we have you ready to go with our Hornets vs. Pacers prediction, odds, and preview. Tip-off from Indianapolis is at 7:00 p.m. ET.
The Hornets are 13-point spread favorites, and the game total is 230 points scored.
These teams have played twice this season. Indiana won both contests straight-up and against the spread, beating Charlotte 127-118 on November 19 and 114-112 on January 8. The Pacers and Hornets have split their last ten matchups (Hornets lead 6-4 ATS), and the under was 6-3-1 in those games. If you want the Hornets vs. Pacers prediction, read on to get our top NBA predictions and increase your bankroll!
Charlotte is building buzz, with Kon Knueppel leading the way
Charlotte (28-31 SU, 37-22 ATS, and 23-36 O/U) beat Chicago 131-99 on Tuesday, covering the 8.5-point spread. The Hornets shot 52 percent from the floor, including 25-for-57 (44%) from three-point range, and held the Bulls to 43 percent shooting. They also dominated on the glass, outrebounding the home team 46-33, and scored 26 points in transition.
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F Brandon Miller leads Charlotte in scoring at 20.6 points per game. He also averages 4.6 rebounds and 3.4 dimes. The Hornets score 115.9 points per game (12th) on 46.0 percent shooting (24th), including 37.6 percent from three-point range (3rd). Defensively, Charlotte allows 113.4 points per game (10th) on 47.3 percent shooting (10th), including 36.6 percent from beyond the arc (24th).
Charlotte went 19-63 last season, finishing 14th in the East and missing the playoffs for the ninth straight season. Injuries stung the Hornets, as LaMelo Ball and Brandon Miller missed significant playing time, leaving Miles Bridges (20.3 PPG in 64 games) as the team's leading scorer. The Hornets made several intriguing moves in the offseason, picking Duke sharpshooting freshman Kon Knueppel with the fourth pick in the draft and adding late first/early second-round talent in UConn forward Liam McNeeley, Duke guard Sion James, and Creighton center Ryan Kalkbrenner. The front office also traded for former first-round pick Collin Sexton and brought in veterans Pat Connaughton, Spencer Dinwiddie, and Mason Plumlee to support their young core. While under .500, the Hornets have been much more competitive, with Knueppel shooting almost 50/40/90 (FG%/3PT%/FT%), an incredible feat for a rookie.
Charlotte Hornets Injury Report:
- Liam McNeeley (ankle) is day-to-day.
Pacers are likely to be without Pascal Siakam
Indiana (15-44 SU, 28-31 ATS, and 26-33 O/U) has lost four straight and eight of its previous ten games (3-7 ATS). The Pacers are led by F Pascal Siakam, who averages 23.9 points, 6.8 rebounds, and 3.9 dimes per game. They score 111.5 points per game (28th) on 45.0 percent shooting (29th), and hold their opponents to 119.3 points per game (25th) on 48.7 percent shooting (27th).
Indiana went 50-32 last season, finishing fourth in the Eastern Conference standings. The Pacers reached the conference finals two seasons ago but made it a step further in 2024-25, falling in seven games to OKC. They completed several rousing comebacks along the way, as guard Tyrese Haliburton hit several shots that will go down in playoff history. Still, the result left a sour taste in Pacers fans' mouths, as the team finished one win away from their first NBA championship and lost Haliburton to an Achilles injury in Game 7 that will sideline him for all of 2025-26.
Hali isn't the only star the Pacers are playing without this season, either. All-Star center Myles Turner signed with Milwaukee in free agency, leaving a gaping hole inside. Indy added Jay Huff and re-signed Isaiah Jackson and James Wiseman, but the career backups have not made a big impact. While replacing Haliburton is impossible, guards Andrew Nembhard and T.J. McConnell have helped pick up the slack. That said, it's clear Indiana is tanking for a top-five draft pick.
Indiana Pacers Injury Report:
- Siakam is doubtful (wrist), while Aaron Nesmith, Ivica Zubac, and Obi Toppin remain out.
Hornets vs. Pacers Pick and Preview
Spread Pick for Hornets vs. Pacers
- Charlotte -13 (4 Units)
The Pacers are lottery-bound and uneager to compete, while the Hornets are busy chasing down a playoff spot. Charlotte enters Thursday's action winners of consecutive games after blowing out Washington and Chicago. They covered as 11-point favorites against the Wizards and as 8-point favorites against the Bulls. They're also 9-1 ATS in their last ten games, with the lone loss as 2.5-point 'dogs in a six-point defeat versus Detroit. The Hornets are top-five in offensive rebounding percentage, as well as second in defensive rebounding percentage, which should translate to several extra possessions for the visitors. They also rarely foul (2nd in opponent FT rate). With one of the league's top three-point lineups, Charlotte will easily win and cover the spread.
Over/Under Pick for Hornets vs. Pacers
- Under 230 (4 Units)
We have a battle of contrasting styles in this NBA matchup, as Charlotte is slow-tempo (26th in pace) and Indiana is high-tempo (10th-fastest). The recent betting trends are also conflicting, as the under is 7-3 in the Hornets' last ten games and the over is 7-3 in the Pacers' L10. That said, the under is still 33-26 in Indiana's games this season. With that said, Charlotte should generate several extra offensive possessions via offensive rebounds that will slow down the pace to its liking, keeping the total under the number. Indiana is missing a few key pieces and will likely be without its top scorer, Siakam, which will challenge the 15-win Pacers offensively.
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