The NBA has NBA Cup games today, and if you don’t know what that means, no problem. I’ll help you out.
Mostly, it means these games matter a bit more because if you win the NBA Cup, you win extra money. For some of the players, it means they basically double their salary – these are mostly role players and some rookies. However, the NBA Cup is also pretty cool because the teams actually seem to care about winning it. Tonight the Hornets take on the Wizards and I’m a bit baffled at the line on the game.
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The Charlotte Hornets are not as terrible as you might think if you haven’t followed the game recently. They don’t have LaMelo Ball, but for this team, that might actually be a good thing. They are able to unleash Brandon Miller a bit more. Kon Knueppel showed that he might be the best rookie from last year (and certainly the best not named Cooper Flagg). The team has Naz Reid, Dennis Schröder, and a ton of role player/veterans that actually do make a difference.
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Brandon Miller of the Charlotte Hornets looks on after a preseason game against the Brooklyn Nets at Spectrum Center in Charlotte, N.C., on Oct. 6, 2026. (Getty Images)
So far, the team is 3-2 and has beaten the Nets, Heat, and Wizards. The Nets are a bad team. The Heat and Wizards games were in Charlotte. Their two losses were to Detroit and Atlanta, both playoff teams. I do expect Washington to be a playoff team. I wouldn’t be surprised to see the Hornets find their way into the postseason, but most likely they will be a play-in team. The biggest issue for the Hornets right now is the health of their team. They are without Coby White, Knueppel, Grant Williams, and Schroder is a game-time decision.
The Washington Wizards mascot performs during the first half against the Brooklyn Nets at Capital One Arena on Jan. 2, 2026. (Daniel Kucin Jr./Imagn Images)
COOPER FLAGG LEADS NBA ALL-ROOKIE FIRST TEAM ALONGSIDE FORMER DUKE TEAMMATE KON KNUEPPEL AND VJ EDGECOMBE
The Washington Wizards are also better than you probably realize. The biggest challenge for this team is going to be how quickly they can gel. I’m going to first start by sharing the second unit for the squad. Bub Carrington/Tre Mann, Tre Johnson, Bilal Coulibaly/Justin Champagnie, Khris Middleton, and DeAndre Ayton. A team of Mann, Coulibaly, Champagnie, Middleton, and Ayton would likely win 20-30 games in a season. They are all reserves for a reason, but this is a very deep bench.
Washington Wizards forward Justin Champagnie (9) shoots the ball as Philadelphia 76ers guard Kelly Oubre Jr. (9) defends in the second half at Capital One Arena on April 1, 2026 in Washington, District of Columbia. (Geoff Burke/Imagn Images)
The starters got even better because they just added AJ Dybantsa, who will win Rookie of the Year. I watched him play for five minutes against the Cavs, and I placed a bet on it the next day. Dybantsa already looks polished, smarter, and more versatile than any other rookie out there. Again, all of this hinges on how well the team plays together. Also, if the team trades Anthony Davis, as is the discussion, it would hurt them, but they could get good value in return.
Tonight, though, the Wizards are at home, where they’ve gone just 1-1. They play a team they just lost to a few days ago. They are playing in an NBA Cup game, so the effort should be there. And their team is just better than the Hornets. I’m making a major move on this game, and I will take the Wizards on the moneyline at -118.
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