Betting
Golden State Warriors vs Charlotte Hornets Preview: Odds, Tips and Prediction
Date: Wednesday 31st December 2025 Start time: 1 pm local time (6 pm BST) Venue: Spectrum Center, Charlotte Last regular season meeting: November 5, 2025, Denver Nuggets 122-112 Miami Heat The Golden State Warriors travel east to take on the Charlotte Hornets on New Year’s Eve. The Hornets are battling for the play-in positions, whereas the Warriors are currently occupying the final spot in the playoffs. Which franchise will end the calendar year with a much-needed victory, and which NBA betting sites offer the best odds and markets for this matchup?
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Stephen Curry #30 of the Golden State Warriors /Getty Images
Pre-Game Odds and Win Probability:
- Charlotte Hornets: 9/2 (5.50) – 18.2%
- Golden State Warriors: 1/6 (1.17) – 85.5%
- Forecast odds – Betting available on bet365 closer to event
Head-to-Head Record
Both the Golden State Warriors and the Charlotte Hornets have played in 70 NBA regular-season games. It’s a tight overall, with the Warriors winning 37 matches, compared to the Hornets sealing 33 victories.
Last 5 Matches
| Season | Date | Result |
| 2024-25 Season | March 3, 2025 | Golden State Warriors 119-101 Charlotte Hornets |
| 2024-25 Season | February 25, 2025 | Golden State Warriors 128-92 Charlotte Hornets |
| 2023-24 Season | March 29, 2024 | Golden State Warriors 115-97 Charlotte Hornets |
| 2023-24 Season | February 23, 2024 | Golden State Warriors 97-84 Charlotte Hornets |
| 2022-23 Season | December 27, 2022 | Golden State Warriors 110-105 Charlotte Hornets |
Charlotte Hornets – LLLWL (Last Five Results)
Record | Home Form | Road Form |
9-19 | 6-8 | 3-11 |
The Charlotte Hornets have shown this season that they aren’t quite up to standard for a playoff place. There is still time to change that, as there is a large part of the season still to go. Their home record is far superior to their road form, winning only three matches. This matchup will be a huge test for them.
Unsurprisingly, with a 9-19 record, the Hornets’ offense ranks among the league's worst. They sit 20th in average points per game with 114.5, but their shooting from the field and at the free-throw line is identical, both ranked 24th, respectively.
Charlotte Hornets – Offense vs Golden State Warriors
The Hornets’ offense might not be the strongest, but they take on a Warriors side that has a strong defense. This would make it an intriguing matchup, and the Hornets have a world-class shooter in the form of LeMelo Ball to try and break down this team’s defenders.
Key Players to Watch
- LaMelo Ball (Guard) – Ball is one of the Hornets’ most talented offensive playmakers. He’s averaging only 19.2 points and 8.6 assists this season, but his explosiveness could see a prime-time performance against the Warriors.
- Ryan Kalkbrenner (Center) – Kalkbrenner is playing in his first-ever NBA season and is averaging 8.7 points and 6.4 rebounds per game. These statistics are impressive given his lack of experience in the big leagues.
- Miles Bridges (Forward) – Bridges has been the Hornets' main offensive threat this season, averaging 21.1 points and 6 rebounds per game. While his scoring is the best of his career, his rebounding is slightly below his past averages.
Injury Report:
- Grant Williams – Out (knee)
- Collin Sexton – Out (quadriceps)
- LaMelo Ball – Out (right wrist soreness)
- Ryan Kalkbrenner – Out (left elbow sprain)
Golden State Warriors – WLLLW (Last Five Results)
Record | Home Form | Road Form |
14-15 | 8-4 | 6-11 |
The Golden State Warriors are currently fighting for the final playoff spots in the West, with a record of 14-15 so far. They have a strong home form with an 8-4 record, but on the road, they have the fourth-worst form in the league. The organization needs to build a consistent run if it wishes to compete for the high playoff places.
The Warriors rank below their opponents in scoring, averaging 114.0 points per game and sitting 22nd in the NBA. While their overall offense struggles, they stand out as clear leaders in three-pointers, having made 466 this season. This shows that while they excel at long-range shooting, they struggle to convert efficiently from the field and the free-throw line.
Golden State Warriors
The Hornets are ranked 12th in the NBA on team blocks per game with 5, which would indicate that the Warriors need to rise to the occasion to try and make up for their lack of scoring power. Stephen Curry is producing incredible numbers at the age of 37, but he’s the only standout shooter who can make a game-winning difference.
Key Players to Watch
- Stephen Curry (Guard) – Yet again, Curry is their best player on offense, but he’s averaging high numbers as he did in his prime. Even though he’s 37, he’s still the organization’s most valuable player. In 2025, he’s averaging 28.8 points per game.
- Jimmy Butler III (Forward) – Butler defines consistency and has played at an extremely high level this year. But he’s not getting the credit he deserves because of the Warriors’ subpar record, yet his output is impressive.
- Draymond Green (Forward) – Green is reliable as ever in defense, as the 35-year-old is averaging his career averages in rebounds, assists, blocks, and points per game. On his day, he’s still one of the best forwards in the league.
Injury Report:
- Seth Curry – Out (thigh)
- Al Horford – Out (back)
Predicted Line-Ups
Charlotte Hornets
Guard: LaMelo Ball
Guard: Kon Knueppel
Center: Ryan Kalkbrenner
Forward: Miles Bridges
Forward: Brandon MillerGolden State Warriors
Guard: Stephen Curry
Guard: Pat Spencer
Center: Quinten Post
Forward: Draymond Green
Forward: Jimmy Butler III
Value Bets
After spending time researching platforms, SportsBoom recommends you take the time to explore the listed US betting sites, which should provide more chances for new betting customers to earn large returns.
Total Points: Under 237.5: Neither team has a strong offense, evidenced by their lackluster placement in average points per game standings. This leads us to predict that this game will have under 237.5 points per game.
Stephen Curry to post at least 25 points: Stephen Curry is one of the best shooters in the entire league, even at the age of 37. He has played against the Hornets on 24 occasions, with a career-long average of 25.3 points. This is why we predict he will have a good game.
Why the Golden State Warriors can win
- Stephen Curry is in red-hot form at shooting from all corners of the court.
- The Warriors have a five-game winning streak over the Hornets.
- Handling Butler and Green could prove too tough a challenge for the Hornets.
Expert Prediction: Golden State Warriors to win
In conclusion, my betting prediction is that the Golden State Warriors will win this match. The Charlotte Hornets will make it an exciting game, but Curry’s quality should help the organization win. The Warriors will have additional motivation to extend their winning streak, too.
Henry Cheal is a versatile freelance sports journalist with extensive experience in the industry. Henry has previously worked at the 2024 World Snooker Championship and earned a Multimedia Sports Journalism degree from UCFB in 2023.
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