New York Knicks vs Charlotte Hornets Preview: Who Can Keep Their Winning Streak Alive?

Kimberly McClary
Charlotte Hornets guard Sion James (4) moves the ball

The New York Knicks will begin their four-game road trip by traveling to play against the Charlotte Hornets tonight, March 26, 2026, in Charlotte, NC. The Knicks enter this game on a seven-game winning streak, while the Hornets are also on a winning streak themselves, winning their last four games at home.

This is the second-to-last meeting between these two teams in the regular season. They will play each other once more at Madison Square Garden in April. Expect a highly intense inter-conference matchup as each team has an impressive winning streak on the line.

Game Details

Date: March 26, 2026

Time: 7:00 p.m. EDT

Location: Spectrum Center in Charlotte, NC

TV/Streaming: FanDuel Sports Network South and Southeast, MSG, NBA TV/Fubo, NBA League Pass, Sing TV

Odds: Spread: Hornets -1.5, Knicks +1.5; Moneyline: Hornets -115 to -120; Total: (Over/Under) 223.5 

Team Form & Recent Results

Knicks Form (48-25)

  • Won five of their last five games, currently on a seven-game winning streak. Won their last matchup against the New Orleans Pelicans on March 24, 2026, 121-116
  • In their last five games, they have displayed high-powered offensive efficiency balanced by a rebounding dominance that has compensated for some recent defensive lapses and slow starts.
  • Strengths: elite offensive firepower, rebounding dominance, star performances in Jalen Brunson, efficient playmaking
  • Weaknesses: slow first quarters, defensive rating drop, bench depth injuries, three-point volume
  • Injuries: Miles McBride-Out for the Season (sports hernia); Landry Shamet-Out (right knee tibial plateau contusion)

Hornets Form (38-34)

  • They have won four of their last five games and are currently on a four-game winning streak. Won their last matchup against the Sacramento Kings on March 24, 2026, 134-90.
  • In their last five games, they have leveraged an elite perimeter offense and strong glass control, although their primary struggles remain high turnover rates and a heavy reliance on three-point shooting that can go cold.
  • Strengths: high-volume perimeter scoring, explosive offensive efficiency, rebounding dominance, elite guard depth
  • Weaknesses: turnover issues, defensive consistency, over-reliance on the three, free throw performance
  • Injuries: Tidjane Salaun-Out (left calf strain); Pat Connaughton-Questionable (illness)

Key Players to Watch

Knicks

As the engine and captain of the offense, Brunson is coming off a stellar performance where he scored a game-high 32 points and dished out 7 assists on Tuesday in the Knicks’ win over the Pelicans. He has averaged 25.4 points and 7.6 assists over his last five games. 

Center Karl-Anthony Towns is a dominant force on the boards, recording 21 points and 14 rebounds in the Knicks’ win against the Pelicans. In his previous meeting with the Hornets this season, he recorded one of his 51 double-doubles, scoring 35 points and grabbing 18 rebounds. 

Forward OG Anunoby has been a major scoring threat lately, averaging 20.6 points over his last five games. Guard Mikal Bridges remains a vital two-way wing player, coming off a 14-point, 7-assist performance in the win against the Pelicans. Forward Josh Hart is known for his all-around impact, nearly notching a triple-double (15 pts, 8 reb, 8 ast) in the Knicks’ last game against the Hornets.

Projected Starting Lineup:

  1. Jalen Brunson (PG)
  2. Josh Hart (SG)
  3. Mikal Bridges (SF)
  4. OG Anunoby (PF)
  5. Karl-Anthony Towns (C)

Hornets

The Hornets possess their own engine in the superstar LaMelo Ball, who has been on a “heater” lately, averaging 20.3 points and 7.1 assists over his last five games. Forward Brandon Miller is a versatile scorer who has been highly efficient during the Hornets’ winning streak. He is averaging 19.8 points on 42% shooting from three-point range over his last five games. 

Guard Coby White has led the Hornets in points in two of their last five games, including a 27-point performance against the Orlando Magic. His perimeter shooting is a major reason the Hornets tied a franchise record with 26 threes in their last outing.

Rookie Kon Knueppel has become a historical threat from deep, sitting second in franchise history for threes made in a single season at 247. Center Moussa Diabate has anchored the Hornets’ interior, averaging 8.8 rebounds per game during their win streak.

Projected Starting Lineup:

  1. LeMelo Ball (PG)
  2. Coby White (SG)
  3. Kon Knueppel (SF)
  4. Brandon Miller (PF)
  5. Moussa Diabate (C)

Perimeter Offense vs. Perimeter Defense

While the Knicks are expected to win this matchup due to their offensive efficiency, the Hornets’ recent defensive surge during their four-game win streak adds another layer. Although the Knicks have had a top-5 defensive rating all season long, they have shown some cracks during their seven-game win streak that the Hornets can exploit, such as perimeter shooting.

Knicks Offense vs Hornets Defense

Towns will be the biggest problem for the Hornets, as his numbers from his last meeting show him to be difficult for them to handle. Diabate has been excellent on the glass as of late, but he lacks the size and experience needed to consistently bother Towns’ perimeter-to-post versatility. 

Brunson excels at methodical, mid-range isolation, in which Ball is a high-risk, high-reward defender who often gambles on steals. Look for the Knicks to use high screens to switch Brunson onto the Hornets’ weaker perimeter defenders like White and Knueppel. 

Over their last two games, Head Coach Charles Lee’s defensive scheme held the Kings and the Memphis Grizzlies to an average of 95.5 points. They have found success by being more aggressive in the passing lanes. 

Hornets Offense vs Knicks Defense

The Hornets are making historical waves, averaging 18.8 made three-pointers over their last five games, and tying a franchise record with 26 in their last outing behind performances from Knueppel and White. The Hornets love chaos, and Ball is excellent at pushing the ball after a miss or turnover, looking for early-clock buckets. If Ball can get into the paint and collapse the defense, it opens up the drive-and-kick that has made the Hornets so dangerous lately.

Head Coach Mike Brown’s defensive scheme often prioritizes protecting the paint, which sometimes leaves the corners open, allowing a high volume of opponent three-point attempts. Anunoby and Bridges will be tasked with defending Miller and Ball to prevent them from getting the hot hand.

Prediction

Predicted Winner: Hornets

Projected Score: Hornets 115, Knicks 112

Win Probability: FanDuel Research projects the Hornets at 56.3% based on their dominant home stand; SportsbookWire favors the Hornets at 53.7%; BetMGM Winning Team Model favors the Knicks 63.7%, extending their seven-game winning streak and overall superior record; ESPN’s BPI gives the Knicks a slim majority chance at 52.0%, projecting them as 0.5 point favorites in a straight-up scenario

Over/Under: 223.5 points

What To Expect In Tonight’s Matchup?

Tonight’s game between the Knicks and the Hornets is a clash between two of the Eastern Conference’s top-notch teams. The Knicks are on the hunt for their eighth straight win, while the Hornets are on the hunt for their fifth, and neither team is looking for their streaks to come to an end.

Expect a high-scoring, fast-paced game that mimics a track meet. This should be a close game that goes down to the wire, with either the ball in the hands of Ball or Brunson before the final buzzer.