The Houston Rockets will host the Charlotte Hornets in the NBA on Thursday night. The Rockets have been one of the better teams in the Western Conference this season, while the Hornets are making some impressive progress in the East of late. Houston is a slight favorite here, and you can find my Hornets vs Rockets prediction below before this contest tips off.
Our Hornets vs Rockets Pick
Pick: Hornets +3.5 ATS PRO
Confidence: 2/5
Game Snapshot
Matchup: Charlotte Hornets @ Houston Rockets
Date & Time: February 5, 2026, 8:00 PM ET
Venue: Toyota Center, Houston, TX
Broadcast: NBA League Pass
Key Storylines
Charlotte’s surge of late has been impressive. The Hornets have won seven straight games and they are one game behind the final Eastern Conference play-in tournament spot going into this matchup. The question is whether the Hornets can sustain that momentum after making some deadline deals, including one to bring Coby White into the fold.
Houston’s form has been impressive at home. The Rockets are 17-5 in their building, though they did los to the Boston Celtics there on Wednesday. The Rockets are on the second game of a back-to-back after that loss to Boston and they will try to overcome any fatigue to get the win in this matchup.
Kevin Durant’s ankle: After sitting at Indiana, Durant was on the floor for the Rockets against Boston. But on the second game of a back-to-back, we could see the Rockets handle Durant cautiously here, as he is so important to the team's long-term plans.
Rest angle: Charlotte last played on February 2 and enters with extra rest, while Houston faces this game the night after losing to Boston at the same venue.
Head-to-Head & Betting Trends
This is the first meeting of the season between the Hornets and Rockets.
Charlotte is 30-21 against the spread going into this matchup.
Houston has a 22-27 record against the spread going into Thursday night.
The under is 31-20 in Hornets games so far this season.
The under is 27-21-1 in games involving the Rockets this year.
Hornets vs Rockets Model Projection
Score Projection: Charlotte 116 – Houston 118
Win Probability: Charlotte 36%, Houston 64%
Final Thoughts
Charlotte’s confident run and rest edge are meaningful, and I think those components will help the Hornets cover the spread as a home underdog. Expect the three-point shooting for the Hornets to help them stay competitive here, while the Rockets could struggle to defend consistently while playing on tired legs. The Rockets should ultimately get the win, but this will be a one-possession game.
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