Fearless predictions: Damian Lillard puts on show, but the Hornets will win a close one

Five fearless predictions for Saturday’s Charlotte Hornets game against the Portland Trail Blazers:

1. Hornets will be the fresher team

This is the second game of back-to-backs for both teams. The difference is the Hornets are at home both nights, while the Blazers played in Orlando, then flew to Charlotte.

2. Big opportunity for Howard

Blazers big man Jusuf Nurkic missed three games heading into the Magic game with a sprained ankle. That moved rookie Zach Collins into the starting lineup. Either way, advantage Dwight Howard.

3. Noah Vonleh won’t have a ‘revenge’ game

The Hornets traded the former lottery pick after one season in the Nic Batum deal. He hasn’t exactly lit it up in his time with the Blazers.

4. Damian Lillard puts on a show

Lillard is an exceptional pick-and-roll point guard, and was as a Blazers rookie; it took a while longer for Kemba Walker to develop all the different skills.

5. Hornets 106, Blazers 102

This figures to be a close one; the Hornets’ bench has to break even with the Blazers’ reserves.

This story was originally published December 15, 2017 at 8:40 PM with the headline "Fearless predictions: Damian Lillard puts on show, but the Hornets will win a close one."