The Charlotte Hornets (26-31) take on the Washington Wizards (16-39) in an Eastern Conference matchup on Sunday, February 22, 2026. The Hornets, sitting 10th in the East and riding a six-game road win streak, face a struggling Wizards team that’s 13th in the conference and has won just two of their last five. Charlotte enters as heavy favorites, looking to extend their dominance in the series with a fourth straight win over Washington this season. Below is a detailed breakdown, including team analysis and betting insights.
Venue Location
Capital One Arena, Washington D.C.
This 20,356-capacity venue, home to the Wizards since 1997, has seen Washington post an 11-18 home record this season, providing little edge against a road-hot Hornets squad.
Tipoff is scheduled for 6:00 p.m. ET (3:00 p.m. PST).
The game will be broadcast on FDSSE (for Charlotte) and MNMT (for Washington), with streaming available on NBA League Pass.
Recent Team Forms
The Hornets are 3-2 in their last five, with strong road wins but recent close losses to top teams. The Wizards are 2-3, snapping a skid with back-to-back home wins over Indiana but struggling overall. Here’s a summary of their last five games:
| Team | Date | Opponent | Result | Key Notes |
| CHA | Feb 20, 2026 | @ Cleveland Cavaliers | L 113-118 | LaMelo Ball: 28 pts; Close road loss to contender. |
| CHA | Feb 19, 2026 | @ Houston Rockets | L 101-105 | Ball: 25 pts; Defensive battle. |
| CHA | Feb 11, 2026 | vs. Atlanta Hawks | W 110-107 | Brandon Miller: 22 pts; Clutch home win. |
| CHA | Feb 9, 2026 | vs. Detroit Pistons | L 104-110 | Miller: 18 pts; Turnover issues. |
| CHA | Feb 7, 2026 | @ Atlanta Hawks | W 126-119 | Ball: 30 pts; High-scoring road victory. |
| WAS | Feb 20, 2026 | vs. Indiana Pacers | W 131-118 | Bub Carrington: 24 pts; Efficient shooting (57.9 FG%). |
| WAS | Feb 19, 2026 | vs. Indiana Pacers | W 112-105 | Kyshawn George: 20 pts; Balanced effort. |
| WAS | Feb 11, 2026 | @ Cleveland Cavaliers | L 113-138 | Carrington: 18 pts; Blown out on road. |
| WAS | Feb 8, 2026 | vs. Miami Heat | L 101-132 | George: 15 pts; Defensive collapse. |
| WAS | Feb 7, 2026 | @ Brooklyn Nets | L 113-127 | Will Riley: 27 pts; Tough road loss. |
Charlotte is 7-3 in their last 10, averaging 112 PPG in wins with strong perimeter defense. Washington is 3-7 in their last 10, but their recent wins show improved scoring (121.5 PPG average).
Injury Report
Injuries favor Charlotte, with Washington missing key depth and dealing with questionables.
- Charlotte Hornets:
- Out: Miles Bridges (league suspension).
- Out: Moussa Diabate (league suspension).
- Out: Liam McNeeley (left ankle sprain).
- Out: Coby White (left calf strain).
- Stars like LaMelo Ball, Brandon Miller, and Grant Williams (knee; available) are ready, providing offensive firepower.
- Washington Wizards:
- Questionable: Justin Champagnie (right knee tendinopathy).
- Questionable: Kyshawn George (left big toe sprain).
- Questionable: Tristan Vukcevic (right hand contusion).
- Out: Alex Sarr (right hamstring strain).
- Out: Cam Whitmore (right shoulder; deep vein thrombosis).
- Depth like Bub Carrington and Bilal Coulibaly will need to step up amid absences removing rebounding and defense.
Key
Player Matchups
Washington’s injuries weaken their perimeter and interior, giving Charlotte clear edges:
- LaMelo Ball (CHA) vs. Bub Carrington (WAS): Ball (25 PPG, 8 APG) exploits mismatches with vision; Carrington (15 PPG) must contain but lacks experience.
- Brandon Miller (CHA) vs. Kyshawn George (WAS, if plays): Miller (20 PPG, 40% 3PT) stretches the floor; George (12 PPG) brings defense but is questionable.
- Kon Knueppel (CHA) vs. Bilal Coulibaly (WAS): Knueppel (18 PPG) vs. Coulibaly’s athleticism (14 PPG, 2 SPG); rebounding battle key.
- Other Notes: Ryan Kalkbrenner (CHA) dominates the paint without Sarr; Will Riley (WAS) adds scoring but Charlotte’s steals (8 SPG) target turnovers.
Series History
The Hornets lead the all-time series 74-65.
Charlotte has won the last three meetings this season: 119-115 on Jan. 24, 2026; 126-109 on Dec. 23, 2025; and 139-113 on Oct. 26, 2025.
In the last 10 games, it’s 6-4 Hornets, with Charlotte covering the spread in two of three this year.
Betting Trends
- Trends: Charlotte is 7-1 ATS in their last eight and 9-0 straight-up as favorites recently.
Washington is 23-21 ATS as underdogs but 1-4 ATS in their last five home games.
The over has hit in 22 of Charlotte’s 57 games (38.6%) but under in four of Washington’s last five.
Game Odds
Charlotte Hornets – 11.5
Washington Wizards 225.5
Odds Courtesy of Sports Odds Direct as of Saturday, February 21, 2026
