Hawks' turnover pressure meets Hornets' rebounding in Charlotte

The Atlanta Hawks (46-36 last season) and Charlotte Hornets (44-38) meet Friday, October 23, at 7:00 PM ET in Charlotte, with Atlanta's turnover pressure facing a Hornets team that rebounds its own misses and is missing two starters.

Atlanta forced turnovers on 13.2% of opponent possessions last season, sixth in the NBA. Charlotte gave it away on 12.8% of its own, 24th, so every loose pass is a chance for Dyson Daniels, who averaged two steals a game.

The Hornets answer on the glass. They rebounded 30.5% of their misses, fourth in the league, against an Atlanta defense that rebounded 74.5% of opponent misses, ninth. Charlotte also took 48.7% of its shots from three, second most.

Atlanta's opponents posted a 54.6 effective field goal percentage, 19th in the league. Jalen Johnson led the Hawks with 22.5 points, 10.3 rebounds and 7.9 assists a game. For Charlotte, Brandon Miller averaged 20.2 points and Moussa Diabate 8.7 rebounds, the team lead.

Charlotte is short-handed. Kon Knueppel, who played 31.4 minutes a game, Coby White and Grant Williams are out, each expected back Saturday, October 24. Atlanta has Mouhamed Gueye and Henri Veesaar out and three more players questionable.

Both teams won their latest game: Atlanta 132-125 at Orlando, Charlotte 110-103 at Brooklyn. Sportsbooks' prices give Atlanta a 56% chance to win. Keel's projection, built from the players available, has it at 50% for each side.