Miami Heat vs Charlotte Hornets Picks and Prediction for Saturday October 24 2026
Southeast Division rivals will square off on Saturday evening, when the Miami Heat visit the Charlotte Hornets. Tipoff is scheduled for October 24, 2026 at 6:00 pm EST from the Spectrum Center. The game will be streamed on NBA League Pass. The Heat have been installed as a 3.5 point road favorite and the total is sitting at 232.5. Be ready for all of this season's NBA action with our free NBA picks.
Miami struggling on offense
The Miami Heat have qualified for the playoffs in seven of the previous ten seasons and have not won a playoff series since advancing to the NBA Finals in 2023. The Heat (0-2) made a huge splash in the offseason by trading for two-time MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo and also signed sharp-shooter Klay Thompson to a free agent deal. Last night, Miami was outscored by 15 points in the first quarter and trailed by as many as 23 points during a 128-111 home loss versus Detroit.
Giannis Antetokounmpo poured in a game-high 36 points (15-26 FG) to go along with 12 rebounds and five assists. Miami G Davion Mitchell scored 18 points on 6-for-14 from the field and dished out five assists. The other three Heat starters combined for 18 points on an inefficient 7-for-29 shooting.
Miami played at the fastest tempo in the league a season ago and it remains to be seen if they will play that fast with Giannis. Providing him adequate spacing will be the key for an offense that ranked 13th in efficiency. During Friday’s loss, the Heat missed 36 of 51 three-point attempts and shot just 38 percent overall.
Hornets off an embarrassing loss
The Charlotte Hornets have missed the playoffs in ten consecutive seasons and have not won a playoff series since 2002. The Charlotte Hornets, who finished last season 44-38, traded for versatile big man Naz Reid in the offseason and are excited about the potential for their new look squad. Last night, Charlotte trailed by 25 points at halftime during an ugly 128-81 home loss versus Atlanta.
Naz Reid led Charlotte with 17 points (7-16 FG) and six rebounds, but committed a game-high seven turnovers. The rest of the starting lineup combined for 18 points on a woeful 6-for-28 shooting effort. Grayson Allen and Tidjane Salaun added 11 points each off the bench for the Hornets.
Charlotte ranked in the bottom six in turnover rate last season and have committed an alarming 48 turnovers through their first two games. The Hornets missed 40 of 51 three-point attempts and shot an ice cold 34 percent overall. Charlotte was outscored 54-34 in the paint and trailed by as many as 49 points.
Miami Heat vs Charlotte Hornets Picks and Prediction
Pick: Miami Heat -3.5
Charlotte guards Coby White (calf) and Kon Knueppel (hamstring) remain sidelined during Friday’s loss. Both are not expected to play in this game. The Heat won three straight games against the Hornets a season ago, before falling in the final meeting at Charlotte by a 136-106 final score. Miami needs a win and a banged-up Charlotte squad is the perfect remedy. Take the Heat to win and cover.
Pick: Under 232.5
Charlotte is missing two of their top playmaking guards and scored 100 points just once in four preseason games. The Hornets scored 110 in a season opening victory at Brooklyn, but could not get anything going last night. The Heat have been one of the best defensive teams in the league for a long time and will clamp down to earn their first win. Take the under.
Final Score Prediction: Miami Heat win 118-107