Avdija and the Trail Blazers take on Ball and the Hornets

The Charlotte Hornets (32-33, 10th in the Eastern Conference) will be facing off against the Portland Trail Blazers (31-34, 10th in the Western Conference) in an exciting non-conference matchup at the Moda Center in Portland, Oregon. The game is scheduled for Tuesday at 10 p.m. EDT.

The Trail Blazers have a record of 17-15 at home this season. They have been giving up an average of 118.0 points per game and have been outscored by 2.7 points on average. On the other hand, the Hornets have performed well on the road with an 18-16 record. They average 115.9 points per game and have outscored their opponents by 3.4 points on average.

In terms of shooting percentages, the Trail Blazers are shooting 45.1% from the field this season, slightly lower than the 46.9% that the Hornets allow to their opponents. The Hornets average 115.9 points per game, which is 2.1 points fewer than the 118.0 points that the Trail Blazers allow.

This will be the second meeting between the two teams this season, with the Hornets coming out on top in their last encounter with a 109-93 victory on February 28. Brandon Miller led the Hornets with 26 points, while Jrue Holiday led the Trail Blazers with 25 points.

Key players to watch in this matchup include Deni Avdija, who is averaging 24.3 points, seven rebounds, and 6.7 assists for the Trail Blazers, and LaMelo Ball, who is scoring 19.3 points per game with 4.8 rebounds and 7.3 assists for the Hornets. Holiday has been averaging 21.2 points over the last 10 games, and Kon Knueppel has been averaging 21.0 points and 4.4 rebounds while shooting 51.4% in the same span.

In their last 10 games, the Trail Blazers have a record of 5-5, averaging 111.8 points, 45.0 rebounds, and 25.1 assists per game. The Hornets, on the other hand, have a 6-4 record in their last 10 games, averaging 117.0 points, 47.2 rebounds, and 27.4 assists per game.

In terms of injuries, the Trail Blazers will be without Shaedon Sharpe (calf) and Damian Lillard (out for the season with an Achilles injury). The Hornets’ Tidjane Salaun is listed as day-to-day with a knee injury.

Overall, this promises to be an exciting matchup between two evenly matched teams vying for a playoff spot in their respective conferences. Stay tuned for what is sure to be a thrilling game between the Hornets and the Trail Blazers.