New Orleans Pelicans vs Charlotte Hornets NBA Summer League Prediction: Liam McNeeley, Hannes Steinbach Have Hornets as Big July 11 Favorites

Two teams heading in opposite directions after Thursday’s openers meet Saturday night in Las Vegas, as the New Orleans Pelicans take on the Charlotte Hornets at the Thomas & Mack Center. Charlotte enters riding high after a dominant 86-74 win over Orlando to open Summer League, while New Orleans is looking to bounce back after falling to Minnesota in its own tournament opener.

This game carries extra intrigue given what’s missing from each roster. The Pelicans notably left first-round rookies Jeremiah Fears and Derik Queen off their Summer League roster entirely, shifting the spotlight to second-round pick Jaron Pierre Jr. and returning contributors like Hunter Dickinson and Micah Peavy. Charlotte, meanwhile, is fully leaning into its two first-round selections, Liam McNeeley and Hannes Steinbach, both of whom impressed in the win over Orlando.

Charlotte’s Big Favorite Status and What It Means

The oddsmakers have made the Hornets a substantial favorite in this one, with Charlotte laying 6.5 points and sitting at a hefty -250 on the moneyline. New Orleans comes in at +205 as the road underdog, and the total is set at 182.5. That kind of spread is rare even in summer league play, reflecting both Charlotte’s strong debut performance and the fact that New Orleans is without two of the more talented prospects who would typically headline a Pelicans summer roster.

A number that lopsided invites some caution for bettors. Charlotte is 24-17 against the spread in its last 41 home games dating back through various summer and regular season logs tracked by oddsmakers, a solid but not overwhelming trend. New Orleans, playing as a road underdog, has actually covered well in that role historically, going 31-33 as an underdog across tracked contests. The line suggests the market fully expects Charlotte’s rookie duo to carry the day, but New Orleans still has NBA-tested veterans on this roster capable of keeping things closer than the number implies.

McNeeley and Steinbach Set the Bar High

Charlotte’s performance in the opener was carried by Liam McNeeley, who exploded for 28 points and four assists in the win over Orlando. McNeeley shot the ball extremely well and looked every bit the part of a lottery talent capable of contributing immediately. Alongside him, No. 14 overall pick Hannes Steinbach turned in an efficient double-double off the bench with 15 points, 11 rebounds and two blocks, giving the Hornets a physical, do-it-all forward who can complement McNeeley’s scoring. Christian Anderson, Charlotte’s other first-round pick, struggled shooting the ball in his debut, going just 2-of-11 from the field, so there’s some room for growth even within a winning performance.

New Orleans will counter with a group headlined by Hunter Dickinson at center, along with Micah Peavy and second-round rookie Jaron Pierre Jr. getting extended run with the spotlight shifted away from Fears and Queen. Pierre, the 58th overall pick in this year’s draft, will be using these Las Vegas minutes as his first extended opportunity to show he belongs against legitimate competition, and every possession matters for a player in his position trying to carve out a role.

What to Watch on Defense

Charlotte’s defensive rebounding was a major separator in the win over Orlando, with the Hornets winning the battle on the glass 56-37. If that trend continues against a New Orleans frontcourt that lacks its usual size at forward with Queen sidelined, Charlotte could pull away in the same fashion it did against the Magic. New Orleans will need Dickinson to hold his own inside and limit second-chance opportunities if it wants to keep this competitive into the fourth quarter.

Prediction and Best Bet

Charlotte’s rookie class looked the part in its debut, and with New Orleans missing two of its most talented young pieces, the gap between these rosters is real. Still, a number this large against a team with NBA rotation players like Dickinson and Peavy on the floor feels like it’s asking a lot.

Wed, Oct 21 • 8:10 PM	Spread	Money	Total
Indiana Pacers	-4.5 (-105)	-162	O 243.5 (-110)
New Orleans Pelicans	+4.5 (-115)	+140	U 242.5 (-110)

• Prediction: Charlotte Hornets 91, New Orleans Pelicans 80
• Best Bet: New Orleans Pelicans +6.5

Charlotte should win this game comfortably behind McNeeley and Steinbach, but the spread looks a touch too large given the Pelicans still have real NBA depth on the floor even without their top rookies. For those looking to get in on the summer slate, the FanDuel promo code offers new user bonuses worth checking out. Sweepstakes casino fans can also look into the Wow Vegas promo code for coin packages, or explore the Polymarket promo code for prediction market action on the rest of the Summer League slate.