Indiana Pacers vs Charlotte Hornets Picks, Prediction, Odds, and Line Movement for Thursday January 8 2026
Use Code SSWC Pacers vs Hornets picks are on the board Thursday night as Indiana heads to Charlotte for the second meeting of the season, and this matchup sets up as a grind for bettors scanning today’s NBA picks. With both teams shorthanded and recent trends pointing toward lower scoring, this game is more about efficiency than fireworks.
TLDR - Picks and Prediction
- Spread Pick: Charlotte -4.5
- Total Pick: Under 231
- Projected Final Score: Hornets 114, Pacers 108
Stats to Know and Betting Trends for Pacers vs Hornets
- Charlotte has covered the spread in eight of its last nine games.
- Indiana has lost 13 straight games outright.
- The under is 10-5 in Indiana’s last 15 games.
- Indiana ranks 29th in offensive rating.
- The Pacers are last in effective field goal percentage and true shooting percentage.
- Indiana ranks 25th in offensive rebounding.
Odds and Line Movement
Current Odds
| Team | Spread | Odds |
|---|---|---|
| Indiana | +4 | -112 |
| Charlotte | -4 | -108 |
| Total | Over | Under |
|---|---|---|
| 231 | -108 | -112 |
Line Movement - Spread
| Date | Time | Pacers | Hornets |
|---|---|---|---|
| 01/07 | 06:25:33PM | +4.5 (-110) | -4.5 (-110) |
| 01/07 | 06:43:42PM | +4.5 (-115) | -4.5 (-105) |
| 01/07 | 09:13:10PM | +4 (-112) | -4 (-108) |
Line Movement - Total
| Date | Time | Over | Under |
|---|---|---|---|
| 01/07 | 06:25:33PM | 235 (-112) | 235 (-108) |
| 01/07 | 07:37:28PM | 233 (-112) | 233 (-108) |
| 01/08 | 07:16:41AM | 231 (-108) | 231 (-112) |
Pacers vs Hornets Game Preview and Analysis
Indiana took the first meeting back in mid-November with a 127-118 home win, but the context around both teams looks very different now. The Pacers arrive in Charlotte riding a 13-game losing streak, though they did manage to stay within the number as a home underdog against Cleveland on Tuesday.
Charlotte is on the second leg of a back-to-back after a narrow 97-96 loss to Toronto. Even in defeat, the Hornets once again covered the spread, continuing one of the stronger ATS runs in the league. The Hornets also did a solid job managing minutes, with only one player exceeding 30 minutes, which matters heading into a quick turnaround.
The biggest issue in this matchup is Indiana’s offense. The Pacers were already one of the least efficient scoring teams in the league, and losing Bennedict Mathurin removes nearly 18 points per game from an offense that ranks near the bottom in every meaningful shooting metric. Indiana also struggles to generate second chances, making it hard to recover from cold shooting nights.
Charlotte is not exactly an offensive juggernaut either, but the Hornets have been competitive, defending better and finding ways to hang around games. With Indiana’s limitations and Charlotte’s recent ATS success, this shapes up as a slower-paced, lower-scoring contest.
IND and CHA Key Injuries and Notes
- CHA: Brandon Miller missed Wednesday’s game and is questionable.
- CHA: Ryan Kalkbrenner is questionable to return.
- CHA: Grant Williams and Mason Plumlee remain out.
- IND: Bennedict Mathurin is out with a thumb injury.
- IND: Isaiah Jackson has been ruled out.
Final Score Prediction
- Hornets 114
- Pacers 108
ATS and Total Picks
- Against the Spread: Charlotte -4.5
- Total: Under 231
