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Parlay: Charlotte Hornets VS New York Knicks 2025-10-17

Charlotte Hornets vs. New York Knicks Preseason Showdown: A Tale of Injuries and Hope

The Charlotte Hornets and New York Knicks meet in their final preseason clash on October 17, 2025, in a game that reads like a sitcom: “The Knicks’ Injury Report: A Comedy of Errors.” Let’s break this down with the precision of a stat sheet and the humor of a locker room roast.

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1. Parsing the Odds: A Numbers Game
The Hornets are underdogs at +220 to +250 (decimal: ~2.95–3.2), while the Knicks are heavy favorites at -300 to -360 (decimal: ~1.36–1.54). The spread is Knicks -7.5, and the total is 227.5.

Implied probabilities? The Hornets have a 33-34% chance to win (per decimal odds), while the Knicks? A 73.5% chance—if they had their full roster. But here’s the kicker: the Knicks are missing eight rotation players, including Karl-Anthony Towns (quad), OG Anunoby (ankle), Josh Hart (back), and Jalen Brunson (day-to-day). Their offense will likely rely on Jordan Clarkson, who scored 12 points in a loss to the Wizards. Meanwhile, the Hornets’ LaMelo Ball (23 P, 8 A in a prior game) and Miles Bridges (29 P, 10 R) are expected to lead, though Grant Williams and Josh Green are questionable.

Translation: The Knicks’ “favorites” tag feels like a broken shopping cart—technically a cart, but don’t bet on it rolling straight.

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2. News Digest: The Knicks’ “Rookie All-Stars” Edition
The Knicks’ injury report reads like a grocery list for a team that bought too much “out of stock” signs:
- Karl-Anthony Towns is doing “individual workouts” (code for “we’re not sure when he’ll return”).
- OG Anunoby is “day-to-day” (code for “he’s probably not playing, but we’re not admitting it”).
- Mitchell Robinson is on “load management” (code for “we’re saving him for the regular season, which is technically true”).
- Coach Mike Brown called Hart’s absence “significant,” which is like saying a hurricane is “a little windy.”

The Hornets? They’re healthier but not unscathed. Grant Williams and Josh Green are out indefinitely, but LaMelo Ball is hungry for momentum after a 23-point performance.

ESPN’s take: “The Hornets have a chance to build confidence.” Translation: “The Knicks’ roster is a Jenga tower missing half its blocks.”

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3. Humor: The Absurdity of Preseason Betting
Let’s imagine this game as a cooking show.
- The Knicks are a “gourmet dish” missing its salt, pepper, and main ingredient (Brunson). Their bench? A mix of Isaiah Roby (Exhibit 10 contract) and Jordan Clarkson (a chef who can only make toast).
- The Hornets are a “haute cuisine” team with a few missing garnishes (Williams, Green) but a star sous-chef in LaMelo Ball, who could whip up a 25-point, 10-assist masterpiece if he’s not busy dodging Hornets from the insect variety.

The total of 227.5 points? With both teams likely playing “gamelan” (preseason slang for “go hard for 24 minutes, then rest stars for the final 6”), the over is as likely as a snowstorm in July—but hey, July in New York is basically a snowstorm of bad decisions.

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4. Prediction: The Underdog’s Last Laugh
The Knicks’ depth is paper-thin without their stars. Even if they win, covering the -7.5 spread feels like asking a toddler to parallel park. The Hornets, meanwhile, have a legitimate shot to pull the upset—or at least keep it close enough to make the spread irrelevant.

Same-Game Parlay Pick:
- Charlotte Hornets +7.5 (Implied probability: ~52%, given the spread odds of ~1.91).
- Over 227.5 points (The Knicks’ porous defense and Hornets’ offensive spark make this a 50/50 coin toss, but the line’s low enough to lean over).

Why it works: The Knicks’ starters will sit, leading to a low-scoring first half. But in the second half, both teams will rotate, unleashing a scoring frenzy. The Hornets’ young core, hungry for regular-season momentum, could outplay a Knicks bench that’s basically a “rookie all-stars” team.

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Final Verdict: Bet the Hornets +7.5 and Over 227.5. The Knicks’ “favorites” tag is a mirage, and the Hornets’ underdog story is written in the stars—or at least in the injury report. As Kendrick Perkins said, the Knicks are Eastern Conference finals material… if the Western Conference doesn’t first.

Place your bets, and remember: preseason is just the NBA’s way of saying “spring training… but with fewer mitts and more three-pointers.” 🏀

Created: Oct. 17, 2025, 7:28 p.m. GMT