Hornets Vs Pacers: Preview, Predictions, Picks and Best Bets for Feb. 26

The hornets vs pacers matchup on Thursday, February 26, 2026 at 7 p. m. ET pits the Indiana Pacers (15-44) against the Charlotte Hornets (28-31). Indiana is a heavy underdog by 13 points as it looks to break a four-game home losing streak; the posted point total is 229. 5. A predictive model gives the Hornets a 71. 4% chance to win, and all betting lines, odds and prop bets referenced here originate from a major sportsbook.

Hornets Vs Pacers Line, Total and Prediction

The market set a sizable spread with Charlotte favored by 13 points and the total at 229. 5. The model pick favors the Hornets at 71. 4% win probability, and one expert projection lists Hornets -13 (-110) as the best bet for the matchup. The Hornets are on a road trip currently, seeking a third straight road victory, while the Pacers are attempting to halt a four-game skid at home.

Game Context: Pacers slide and Hornets surge

Indiana has lost four straight games and has failed to cover the spread in each of those losses. In the most recent defeat noted, the Pacers lost by 21 points as an 11. 5-point underdog to the Philadelphia 76ers on Tuesday. Season-long defensive numbers cited show Indiana allowing 119. 2 points per game, and the team has conceded more than 130 points to each of its last three opponents.

Charlotte enters with momentum. The Hornets have covered in nine of their last 10 games and have covered in each of their last five games when listed as a favorite. On the current road trip they are averaging 130. 0 points per game, a scoring clip that underpins confidence in a sizable Hornets victory on Thursday night.

Key Trends, Totals and Player Props

• Both teams have played to totals of 230+ points in each of their last three games.
• The first two meetings between these teams this year averaged a combined total of 235. 5 points.
• Suggested game prop strategy includes the Over in a same-game parlay scenario based on recent team scoring trends.
• Player prop sentiment highlights Hornets rookie Kon Kuneppel to score Over 17. 5 points, which he has done in each of his last three games.
• Shooting depth is a factor: LaMelo Ball, Knueppel, and Brandon Miller have all hit three-pointers in at least two of their last three games, and there have been multiple nights where all three connected in the same contest.
• The Hornets are 9-1 against the spread in their last 10 games overall.

Betting Notes and Best Bets for Tonight

The leading single-game best bet presented is Hornets -13 (-110). Given the Hornets’ recent cover rate, scoring form on the road and Indiana’s defensive struggles and recent margins of defeat, the case for a Charlotte win and a likely cover is framed by those cumulative trends. The matchup’s high totals over recent meetings support including the Over in a multi-leg ticket for risk-tolerant bettors.

Broadcast, Companion Shows and Other Previews

A daily NBA show titled "Run It Back" featuring Lou Williams, Michelle Beadle, DeMarcus "Boogie" Cousins and Chandler Parsons airs weekdays at 10 a. m. ET on a national sports platform and is available as a companion podcast. For readers tracking slate-wide action, related previews include: Bucks vs. Knicks Prediction, Odds, Picks, Best Bets for Feb. 27; Thunder vs. Nuggets Prediction, Odds, Picks, Best Bets for Feb. 27; Pistons vs. Cavaliers Prediction, Odds, Picks, Best Bets for Feb. 27; Capitals vs Golden Knights NHL Prediction, Odds, Picks, Best Bets for Feb. 27; 3 Best NBA Player Prop Bets for Thursday 2/26/26; and Timberwolves vs Clippers Prediction, Best Bets and Player Props.

Prediction Context and Expert Notes

An individual betting analyst’s outlook describes the Hornets as likely to make quick work of the Pacers and seeks to extend Charlotte’s road trip win streak to three games. The Hornets’ recent ability to cover and to post high point totals factor into that stance. Limits on use are noted for Massachusetts residents; affiliate disclosure language indicates the team producing picks may receive compensation if readers sign up through links.

About the Betting Writer Mentioned

The analyst Ed Scimia has been writing about the gaming industry for over 15 years and graduated from Syracuse University with degrees in Magazine Journalism and Political Science in 2003. He has covered major gambling events like the World Series of Poker. Since joining a national betting outlet in 2022, his published work has focused on MLB, NFL, college football and college basketball, with a handicapping approach that prioritizes finding line value from market deviations rather than traditional methods. He notes a habit of shopping lines across multiple sportsbooks in his home state of Connecticut. Outside of betting, he competes in mixed doubles on the World Curling Tour and operates a curling-focused YouTube channel called Chess on Ice; that experience has informed successful Olympic curling wagering for him. His recommended practice for bettors is to open multiple sportsbook accounts and compare odds before placing wagers.

Final note: timing and lines are subject to change; the matchup is scheduled for 7 p. m. ET on Thursday, February 26, 2026, and the market figures referenced reflect the snapshot used for these previews.