The Philadelphia 76ers (40-33) and Charlotte Hornets (39-34) will face off in the NBA this evening. Tipoff is set for 6:00 p.m. ET from the Spectrum Center in Charlotte, North Carolina. The game will broadcast live on FDSSE.
The Hornets are 6.5-point favorites over the 76ers on the spread (Hornets -6.5), with the over/under set at 233.5 total points. Charlotte is a -218 favorite to win outright on the moneyline, while Philadelphia is +180 to pull off the upset.
Let's get into my 76ers vs. Hornets predictions and NBA picks for Saturday, March 28.
76ers vs Hornets Prediction, Pick
- 76ers vs Hornets pick: Hornets -6.5 (-105)
My Hornets vs. 76ers best bet is on Charlotte to cover the spread. Make sure to find the best odds by checking our live NBA odds page.
76ers vs Hornets Odds
| 76ers Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
+6.5 -115 | 233.5 -108o / -112u | +180 |
| Hornets Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
-6.5 -105 | 233.5 -108o / -112u | -218 |
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76ers vs Hornets NBA Preview
This is a spot where waiting for injury news could give you a better number. The big variable today is Tyrese Maxey's status for the 76ers, who’s reportedly ahead of schedule with his injury recovery and trending toward a return.
If Maxey plays, this would be one of the first times the Sixers have rolled out something close to a fully healthy core.
However, the fully healthy version of the Sixers has barely existed this season. Joel Embiid, Paul George, and the rest of their main rotation pieces have shared the floor in a very limited sample — and now, adding Maxey into the mix makes this an even less of a proven group.
There’s also a certain inherent bias in the spread for this matchup. Philadelphia is coming off a strong offensive showing, but that came against a struggling opponent, and this is a completely different test.
The Hornets have been one of the best teams in the league over the past two months, especially defensively, even if the market perception hasn't fully caught up to that yet.
76ers vs Hornets Predictions, Betting Analysis
With the spread sitting around Hornets -5.5, there seems to be a real expectation that Maxey plays in this game — and if that news becomes official, we will likely see public money push this number down — potentially into the -4.5 range.
So, waiting for a better number might make sense for Hornets' bettors here. But on the flip side, if Maxey is ruled out, this line probably jumps to -6.5 or higher.
From a props angle, there’s also an interesting case for Maxey's Under if he returns.
It would be his first game back after an extended absence, so his minutes would likely be capped, and it's a tough defensive matchup against Charlotte. Even after returning so quickly, it’s hard to see him immediately stepping back into a full workload.
Overall, I’m aligned with the Hornets side here, but this is more about timing than anything else. If you like Charlotte, my plan is to wait on Maxey injury news and look for a better entry point closer to tipoff.
Pick: Hornets -5.5 (-105)
