Brooklyn's 1-6 record looks worse than its play, and Charlotte's 3-5 is the version of that team without its two main guards. This match is closer to even than the standings say, with Brooklyn at home.
Brooklyn shoots efficiently, about 44 percent from the field and 36 percent from three, but concedes in bunches, with turnover and fast-break problems against Detroit and a 17-36 third quarter. Its losses came mostly against stronger opponents. Charlotte scores around 97 a game, shoots worse, and averages only 22 points in the fourth quarter while allowing over 28.
Coby White and Kon Knueppel have missed every Charlotte regular-season game, so that thin offence is already the normal Charlotte. Brooklyn's own absences, Demin and Bilodeau, are also several games old. The key matchup is Brooklyn's turnovers against Charlotte's transition and offensive rebounding, and Charlotte did win 110-103 on October 21.
I expect a close first half and a turn in the third and fourth quarters, where Charlotte's guardless offence tends to fade. That's why I'm siding with Brooklyn to win at home.
