The Charlotte Hornets walk into State Farm Arena on Sunday, November 23, 2025, with a mission simpler than most: win a road game. They haven’t done it since October. Not since October 22. Not once in seven tries away from home. At 4-12 overall and 1-7 on the road, they’re staring down the barrel of a season slipping away — and the Atlanta Hawks, fresh off a win and riding a four-game winning streak in this rivalry, are waiting with a 7.5-point spread and a crowd ready to roar.
Why This Game Matters More Than the Record Suggests
It’s not just about the standings. It’s about identity. The Hornets are 10 games behind the playoff cutoff, but more than that, they’re losing belief. Their last road victory? A 118-115 thriller over the Washington Wizards on October 22. Since then? Five straight losses. Seven straight road losses. The players talk about "building momentum," but momentum doesn’t exist when you’re losing by double digits on the road. Meanwhile, the Hawks — at 10-7, tied for fifth in the East — aren’t just better. They’re confident. Jalen Johnson, averaging 22.0 points and 9.7 rebounds, is playing like a top-10 forward. Trae Young, even off his usual numbers, is orchestrating with surgical precision. And the crowd? They know what’s at stake.The Numbers Don’t Lie — But They Don’t Tell the Whole Story
Let’s break it down. The Hornets score 116.6 points per game — slightly more than the Hawks allow. Their field goal percentage (45.8%) matches Atlanta’s defensive mark exactly. On paper, they should be competitive. But here’s the twist: Charlotte’s offense collapses on the road. They’ve won just three of 14 games as underdogs this season. When they’re favored by 7+ points? They’ve gone 2-5 against the spread. But when they’re the underdog? They’re 0-7 on the road this year. And when they’ve scored above 114.6 points — the Hawks’ defensive average — they’re only 3-5. That’s not a coincidence. It’s a pattern. Meanwhile, the Hawks are 2-4 at home, but they’ve won the last four matchups against Charlotte. Not just the games — the matchups. The rhythm. The confidence. In their last meeting — also on November 23, 2025 — Atlanta won 121-107. LaMelo Ball had 12 assists, but only 11 points. Miles Bridges scored 28, but the Hornets shot 39% from deep. The Hawks held their own on the glass and forced 16 turnovers. That’s the blueprint.Who’s Carrying the Load — And Who’s Vanishing
For Charlotte, it’s all about Miles Bridges. He’s averaging 22.1 points, shooting 42.2% from the field and an absurd 89.7% from the line. He’s the only Hornet with a plus-minus over +7.0. But when he’s doubled, who steps up? Mathias Diabaté grabs rebounds like a man possessed — 8.1 per game — but he’s a finisher, not a scorer. LaMelo Ball? 9.3 assists, yes. But his scoring has dipped to 17.8 per game on the road, and his shooting percentage is under 40%. He’s trying to do too much. And when he’s off, the Hornets are lost. For Atlanta, it’s a two-headed monster. Jalen Johnson is having a breakout season — 56.8% shooting, 9.7 rebounds, and he’s not afraid to take the big shot. Zaccharie Risacher, the 20-year-old French phenom, has a +6.4 plus-minus — second only to Johnson. He’s not just scoring; he’s making smart passes, defending multiple positions, and playing with a calmness that belies his age. And then there’s Trae Young. He’s not putting up 30-point nights anymore. But he’s averaging 7.8 assists and making the right reads. He’s not trying to win it alone. He’s letting his team win it.What’s at Stake Beyond the Box Score
This isn’t just about avoiding a fifth straight loss. It’s about whether the Hornets still believe they can compete. Coach James Borrego has said publicly that "the culture is being rebuilt," but culture doesn’t rebuild itself on paper. It’s built in arenas like this — when the crowd is loud, the pressure is high, and the team still finds a way to fight. If Charlotte loses by 20 again, the whispers will turn to shouts: Is this season over? Should they start trading veterans for picks? For Atlanta, a win would solidify their place in the top six. They’re tied with Orlando, but they’ve got the head-to-head tiebreaker. A win here puts them in the driver’s seat for home-court advantage in the first round. And with the playoffs within reach, the Hawks aren’t just playing for pride — they’re playing for legacy.
What’s Next? The Clock Is Ticking
The next meeting between these teams is December 18, 2025, back in Charlotte. But by then, the damage could be done. With only 66 games left in the season, the Hornets need to win at least 25 more just to sniff .500. That means they need to win nearly half their remaining games — and nearly all of them at home. Their road record? 1-7. That’s not a problem. That’s a crisis. The Hawks, meanwhile, have seven games in the next 10 days — including matchups against Boston and Milwaukee. They can’t afford to look past Charlotte. Not when the Eastern Conference is this tight. Miami leads at 10-6. Atlanta and Orlando are tied at 10-7. The next team down? Cleveland at 9-8. One loss here, and the Hawks could slip out of the top six. One win? They lock in.How to Watch
The game tips off at 6:00 p.m. ET at State Farm Arena in Atlanta. Broadcast on FOX Sports Southeast (FDSSE), with live streaming available through the FOX Sports app and NFL+ (via NBA League Pass). Tickets are still available via Ticketmaster, but prices have spiked 40% since Friday — proof that this isn’t just another game.Frequently Asked Questions
Why are the Hornets struggling so badly on the road?
The Hornets’ road struggles stem from defensive lapses and poor shot selection under pressure. They rank 27th in defensive rating away from home and shoot just 40.1% from the field on the road — down from 45.8% overall. Their bench has been outscored by 8.3 points per game on the road, and LaMelo Ball’s assist-to-turnover ratio drops from 3.8 to 2.1 away from Charlotte.
Has Atlanta ever lost to Charlotte in their last four meetings?
No. Atlanta has won all four most recent matchups, including a 121-107 win on November 23, 2025. Though both teams are 2-2 against the spread in those games, the Hawks have outscored Charlotte by an average of 14.5 points per game in the wins. The Hornets haven’t beaten Atlanta since January 2024.
Can Charlotte still make the playoffs?
It’s mathematically possible but nearly impossible. To reach the 10th seed, they’d need to win 25 of their remaining 66 games — a .379 clip. Their current pace is .250. Even if they go 25-41 the rest of the way, they’d still trail the 10th seed by 4.5 games. Without a trade or injury to a top-10 team, their playoff hopes are effectively over.
Who’s the X-factor for the Hawks in this game?
Zaccharie Risacher. At 20 years old, he’s the quietest player on the court but the most impactful. He defends all five positions, hits open threes at 41%, and has a +6.4 plus-minus — the best on the team. When he’s on the floor, Atlanta’s defense tightens up. If he plays 30+ minutes, Charlotte’s offense will struggle to find rhythm.
Is this game a sign of things to come for the Hornets’ rebuild?
If Charlotte loses again, it reinforces the need for a full reset. They’ve got young talent — Bridges, Diabaté, Ball — but they lack cohesion. A win here might spark belief. A loss? It’ll accelerate the timeline for a rebuild, possibly pushing LaMelo Ball into trade talks by February. The next 10 games will define whether this is a team in transition… or one in freefall.
What’s the over/under telling us about this game?
The 232.5-point total suggests a high-scoring, back-and-forth game — but history says otherwise. The last four matchups between these teams averaged just 224.8 points. Charlotte’s games are trending under (8 of 16 games this season), while Atlanta’s are trending over (10 of 17). This could be the first time this season the under hits in a Hawks-Hornets game.
