Charlotte Hornets vs. Golden State Warriors Picks and Predictions, Saturday, January 17th, 2026
The Charlotte Hornets (15-26) and the Golden State Warriors (23-19) tip off with a cross-country matchup as Steph Curry takes on his father's old team in this Hornets vs. Warriors prediction. These teams met on New Year's Eve, with Golden State winning by seven on the road. Charlotte is coming off a road win over the Lakers 135-117, covering as 3.5-point dogs. Golden State just hosted New York, taking the victory 126-113 while covering the 7.5 point spread as favorites. Tipoff is set for 8:30 EST. Keep reading to see our Hornets vs. Warriors prediction, and check out all of our winning NBA Picks.
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Charlotte Continues West Coast
The Charlotte Hornets are in the middle of one of their longest road trips of the season, as they are playing five straight games against Western Conference opponents. This game against Golden State will be their fourth on the trip, as they already won on the road over the Jazz and Lakers, but fell against the suddenly-hot Los Angeles Clippers. The Hornets are currently 12th in the East, but are in striking distance of the playoffs as they are four games out of the ten spot with plenty of time to go.
In their recent win over the Lakers, they were led by LaMelo Ball who finished with 30 points and 11 assists, while knocking down nine three pointers under the bright Los Angeles lights. Ball leads the team in scoring at 20.4 PPG, and also is their top playmaker with 7.8 APG. There are not many shots that Ball will turn down, as he tops the team with 3.5 made threes per game on 37.9% shooting. Miles Bridges is next in scoring, he is a 6'7 forward who can finish well above the rim while contributing 19.7 PPG and 6.5 RPG. Brandon Miller is another 6'7 forward, but plays more like a guard while adding another 19.4 PPG.
Kon Knueppel is going to give Cooper Flagg a run for his money in the Rookie of the Year race, he is averaging 19.1 PPG as an outside shooter. Moussa Diabate will start inside where he averages 8.2 PPG and 8.4 RPG as a 6'10 center. The Hornets rank 9th in offensive efficiency and 24th in defensive efficiency according to dunksandthrees.com. Charlotte ranks 20th in the league in pace of play, based upon their possessions per game.
Warriors Battle Distractions
The Golden State Warriors are working to navigate the recent headlines, as Jonathan Kuminga has demanded a trade from the team. Kuminga is a 23-year old wing getting 11.8 PPG, but has never really found his place in the Golden State rotation, and believes he would be more valuable elsewhere. Head Coach Steve Kerr did not play Kuminga in their recent matchup against the Knicks, leaving him on the bench and going deeper into his rotation. The Warriors are currently 8th in the Western Conference that is tightly packed, except for the Thunder who have a 6.5-game lead on the field.
In the Knicks game, Jimmy Butler had 32 points, while Steph Curry added another 27 in the victory. Butler has fit right in with the Warriors, and has not caused any drama yet as he has in the past with previous teams. Butler is getting 20.1 PPG and 5.6 RPG, he is no longer a consistently elite defender, but can still play lockdown defense in spurts when needed. Curry continues to be the face of the franchise, he leads the team with 28.1 PPG, and is knocking down 4.6 threes per game, which is the highest mark in the league by a wide margin as Donovan Mitchell is 2nd on that list with 2.9 threes per game. Brandin Podziemski is a third scoring option getting 11.9 PPG on the wing.
With Kuminga likely out of the rotation for good, the Warriors will need more production from their role players including Moses Moody (10.6 PPG) and De'Anthony Melton (10.2 PPG). Draymond Green is still their emotional leader, getting 8.5 PPG and 5.9 RPG. The Warriors are ranked 4th in offensive efficiency and 3rd in defensive efficiency. Golden State plays at a very similar pace as the Hornets do, ranking 19th in possessions per game. 
Injury Report for Hornets vs. Warriors:
Hornets:
- Out: Mason Plumlee
Warriors:
- Out: Seth Curry
- Questionable: Gui Santon
| # | Handicapper | Profit |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |  Ben Burns | +1,203.00 |
| 2 |  Joseph D'Amico | +791.00 |
| 3 |  Bryan Power | +507.00 |
| 4 |  MIT Simulator | +449.00 |
| 5 |  Joe Duffy | +374.00 |
Hornets vs. Warriors Picks and Predictions
Spread pick for Hornets vs. Warriors
- Warriors to cover (5 units)
This road trip is going to catch up with the Hornets, as they are playing five straight games while staying in hotels out West. They have been able to win two of the three, but the fatigue that happens on the road will catch up to them here. LaMelo is not going to hit nine three-pointers again in this one, and Golden State still has plenty of depth with wing defenders even without Kuminga. Charlotte does their best scoring from the perimeter, but Butler, Moody and Podziemski are all above average defenders who will close out on shooters. The Warriors are 4th in offensive efficiency, while the Hornets are only 24th in defensive efficiency. That is too big of a mismatch, and the Warriors take advantage here.
Take the Warriors to win and cover.
Over/Under Pick for Hornets vs. Warriors
- Over (4 units)
This has all the signs of a high scoring battle out West. I already referenced the mismatch when the Warriors have the ball, they are 4th in offensive efficiency, while the Hornets are only 24th on defense. Charlotte does not have an answer for Curry in this one, Ball is not known for his defense, and Miller and Knueppel are not quick enough to chase Curry around the perimeter. Steph should easily go over his league leading average of 4.6 made threes per game, as Charlotte will have a tough time locking him down. The Hornets will be fatigued in this one due to their long trip, which could have them going deeper into the bench for weaker defenders. Expect a high scoring game here.
Take the over.
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