Trail Blazers vs Hornets Betting Odds: Henderson Skips Marquee Matchup

NBA Odds Still Favor Blazers With or Without Scoot

This Tuesday night matchup is supposed to feature the head-to-head between Brandon Miller and Scoot Henderson, the second and third picks in this year’s NBA Draft. But an injury has potentially sidelined Henderson so it may just be Miller working to get his Hornets its first win. The Trail Blazers vs Hornets betting odds don’t think so as they enter as four-point underdogs.

Who Steps Up For Portland in Henderson’s Absence?

Will Scoot Henderson play or not? That is the question both fans and bettors are asking. Regardless, the Trail Blazers vs Hornets betting odds favor his team to get the win. That may just be a fade on Charlotte, as the team has looked like a complete mess. But should Henderson not suit up, it will be up to the likes of Shaedon Sharpe and Michael Devoe to pick up the slack.

The former has shown flashes of being like a young Vince Carter. However, he’s struggled with his shot in his two games thus far. Sharpe has hit just 11-of-39 from the field (3-of-14 from 3-points). He’s stayed active and has racked up stats in other areas: 15 boards, three steals, and three blocks.

Meanwhile, Devoe took advantage of his starting spot against San Antonio. The G-Leaguer led the game in scoring with 29 points. He shot 58.8% from the field (10-of-17) and a whopping 71.4% from 3 (5-of-7). Even if Henderson stays out of the NBA injury report today, Devoe may have earned more playing time with his Sunday heroics.

There has yet to be official word if Henderson will play or not. With a hurt shoulder, he sat out of Sunday’s game against Victor Wembanyama and the Spurs. But early signs point to it being a minor injury, so the Blazers’ prized rookie should not miss more time.

The G-League star put up 15 points, six assists, and five rebounds with just one turnover before he got hurt against Houston. If he’s ready to go, expect similar production with plenty of highlights, as the highly-touted guard is a must-see on the NBA game schedule.

No Sting For Miller and the Hornets

While fans wait for news on Henderson’s availability, Miller should suit up for Charlotte again. Despite mixed results, the Alabama star has put in a lot of work as he continues to play his way into being in shape. The 20-year-old went through a battle with mono and lost weight.

This is partly why Miller has struggled to put on consistent performances. In his last outing, he was held to 4-of-18 shooting (0-of-7 from 3). But at least he had no turnovers and got eight rebounds and four assists. In his Las Vegas Summer League debut, he shot just 5-of-15 but corralled 11 boards and had three steals.

It’s not all on Miller, as Charlotte has appeared like the worst team this Summer League. It’s why the Trail Blazers vs Hornets betting odds continue to go against them. The team is 2-8 in Las Vegas since the 2021 Summer League.

Charlotte is filled with talented young players like Kai Jones and Miller’s fellow first-round pick, Nick Smith Jr. But at times, the players appear lost and make unideal plays. Smith, in particular, has also been ice cold from the floor: 5-of-20. But Hornets coach Marlon Garnett still believes in his player.

“The biggest thing that I like that he brings is he’s super passionate about the game, and he works really, really hard,” Garnett said of Smith.

As for Jones, the athletic center continues to flash the tools that made him a first-round pick – including a posterization of Wembanyama. If Garnett can hone his abilities, Jones could be more productive. But given Charlotte’s recent state, betting on this team is a tough ask.
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