Charlotte Hornets vs Washington Wizards Picks and Prediction: Knueppel Keeps Cooking in D.C.
The Charlotte Hornets, sitting 12th in the Eastern Conference at 26-31, travel to face 15th-placed Washington at Capital One Arena on Sunday, February 22, tipping off at 6:00 PM ET. With the Hornets riding a six-game road winning streak and sporting one of the league's most dangerous perimeter attacks behind Kon Knueppel (19.1 PPG, 43.3% from three) and LaMelo Ball, this matchup pits a Charlotte squad trending upward against a Wizards team lodged at the bottom of the East at 16-39, giving up 122.7 points per game at home and potentially missing Trae Young, Kyshawn George, and Alexandre Sarr as both franchises find themselves on very different February trajectories in the 2025/2026 campaign.
OC Staff - February 22, 2026, 2:15 PM EST
3 Minute ReadCharlotte Hornets vs Washington Wizards Picks and Prediction: Knueppel Keeps Cooking in D.C.
Hornets vs Wizards Recent Performance
Charlotte sits 26-31 and has dropped back-to-back games out of the All-Star break, losing 118-113 to Cleveland as 5.5-point underdogs. The rough patch on paper masks something important: the Hornets are 7-1 ATS in their last eight games and riding a six-game road winning streak that nobody seems to want to talk about. Kon Knueppel just dropped 33 in his last outing, is shooting 43.3% from three (10th in the league), and has knocked down at least four threes in six of his last nine games. This team goes as far as its perimeter shooting takes it, and right now that ceiling is very high.
Washington is 16-39 and just pulled off back-to-back wins against Indiana, including a 131-118 blowout on Friday. Don't get too excited. Indiana was missing half their roster, and the Wizards still rank 29th in defensive rating, giving up 122.7 points per game at home. Alondes Williams had a career night with 25 points and 10 rebounds in just his 11th NBA game, which is a fun story until a real defense shows up. Washington is 6-21 at home this season and their three key rotation pieces, Trae Young (quad), Kyshawn George (toe), and Alexandre Sarr (hamstring), are all questionable tonight.
Hornets vs Wizards Head to Head
Charlotte has won the last three head-to-head matchups and covered ATS in two of those three. In two of those wins, the Hornets won by at least 17 points. The one close game, a four-point Wizards loss, is the outlier, not the blueprint.
Charlotte Hornets vs Washington Wizards Date, Time, and Where to Watch
- Date: Sunday, February 22, 2026
- Time: 6:00 PM ET
- How to Watch: Monumental Sports Network, FanDuel Sports Network Southeast, NBA League Pass
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Hornets vs Wizards Odds
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Hornets vs Wizards Team News
Charlotte is still without Miles Bridges and Moussa Diabate, both serving suspensions through February 24. Coby White (calf) has yet to make his Hornets debut and is questionable tonight. Grant Williams (knee) is also questionable. Ryan Kalkbrenner steps into a larger role and delivered with 12 points and 13 boards in 36 minutes against Cleveland. The core is intact: Brandon Miller leads the team at 20.5 PPG, LaMelo Ball runs the offense at 19.1 PPG and 7.3 APG, and Knueppel has been one of the better shooting stories of this rookie class. Charlotte ranks second in the NBA in three-pointers made per game and fifth in accuracy at 37.2%.
Washington's injury report is a mess. Trae Young (quad), Kyshawn George (toe), and Alexandre Sarr (hamstring) are all listed as questionable tonight. If Sarr sits, Washington loses their only real rim presence. Alondes Williams will try to replicate his breakout showing, but going from the Pacers' undermanned roster to this Charlotte front is a serious step up.
Prediction: Hornets 121, Wizards 109
This is about as favorable a matchup as Charlotte gets all season. Washington ranks 29th in defensive rating, surrenders 122.7 points per game at home, and may be missing three of their five best players. Charlotte's interior balance, Kalkbrenner on the glass, Knueppel spacing the floor, and LaMelo creating off ball screens, is a combination Washington cannot answer tonight. The six-game road win streak is not a fluke. The Hornets cover and pull away in the fourth.
Best Bet: Over 227.5 (+106) Click here to get the best odds at FanDuel Sportsbook
Washington plays at the eighth-fastest pace in the league, averaging 105 possessions per game. Charlotte scores 115.4 per night against a Washington defense giving up 122.7 at home. Knueppel attacking a perimeter defense allowing 37% from three while LaMelo pushes in transition adds up fast. The Hornets have gone over this total in 13 of 29 road games and the Wizards have hit the over in 34 of their 55 games this season. Two of the last three Hornets-Wizards matchups cleared the total. With Charlotte running and Washington unable to slow them in the half court, the points are coming in bunches tonight.
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