You know that feeling in late January when the NBA season starts to feel like a grind? For most teams, it’s the "dog days." But for the 2025-26 Charlotte Hornets, the schedule is actually where things finally start to get interesting. Honestly, looking at the charlotte hornets game schedule right now is like looking at a puzzle that’s missing half its pieces, yet somehow you can still see the picture forming. It's a mess, but a beautiful one.
Most fans just look at the wins and losses and think they know the story. They see a 14–26 record and assume the season is a wash. That’s a mistake. If you’ve been watching Charles Lee’s first year at the helm, you know there’s a weird rhythm to this team. They’ll lose a heartbreaker in overtime to the Bucks, then turn around and blow out a healthy Utah Jazz squad by 55 points. Yes, 55.
The schedule isn't just a list of dates. It’s a gauntlet that's currently testing whether LaMelo Ball’s ankles and Brandon Miller’s shooting can survive the rigors of a full 82-game campaign.
The Brutal Reality of the January Road Trip
Right now, the Hornets are in the middle of a West Coast swing that would make most veterans quit. We're talking about a stretch where they face the Lakers, Warriors, and Nuggets in the span of four days. It’s brutal.
- January 15: at L.A. Lakers (7:30 PM ET)
- January 17: at Golden State Warriors (5:30 PM ET)
- January 18: at Denver Nuggets (6:00 PM ET)
The Lakers game is a big one—Dr. Jerry Buss Night at Crypto.com Arena. Tickets are hovering around $75, which isn't bad to see LaMelo go up against whatever version of LeBron is still dunking in 2026. But the real challenge is that back-to-back between San Francisco and Denver. Traveling from sea level to the Mile High City with zero rest is a death sentence for young legs.
Historically, the Hornets struggle here. They aren't deep. When LaMelo sat out recently against Utah to manage that right ankle, the offense shifted to Brandon Miller and Miles Bridges. Miller has been solid, averaging about 19.4 points, but he’s essentially being asked to carry a franchise at age 23. It’s a lot.
Why Everyone Is Talking About February 11
If you're circling dates on your calendar, February 11 is the one. The Atlanta Hawks come to the Spectrum Center for a 7:00 PM tip-off. Divisional games are basically worth double in the Southeast, especially with the Magic and Heat fighting for the top spot.
The Hornets have already beaten Atlanta once this season in a 133-126 shootout. These teams just don't like playing defense against each other. It’s fun for the fans, but probably gives Coach Lee a migraine. Jalen Johnson put up 53 points in their last meeting—a career-high that basically happened because Charlotte couldn't find a way to stop his downhill momentum.
How to Actually Watch the Games (It’s Complicated)
Let’s be real: trying to figure out where to watch the charlotte hornets game schedule is a nightmare. Regional Sports Networks (RSNs) are in a constant state of flux. Currently, FanDuel Sports Network Southeast (formerly Bally Sports) is the primary home for 78 of the 82 games.
If you’re a cord-cutter, you’ve basically got three choices.
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- FanDuel Sports Network App: You can buy this standalone or through Amazon Prime Video.
- NBA League Pass: Only works if you live outside the Charlotte market. If you’re in the 704 or 803, you’ll be blacked out.
- The National Games: We only have six this year.
One of those national games is coming up fast: January 21 against the Cleveland Cavaliers on ESPN. It’s a rare chance for the rest of the country to see Kon Knueppel, the rookie out of Duke who has been a revelation. He’s averaging 19.1 points and shooting a ridiculous 42.5% from three. For a rookie, those are "All-Star in two years" numbers.
Spectrum Center: The Experience Matters
There’s something different about "The Hive" this year. Even though the team is under .500, the attendance has been decent—sitting at 17th in the league. Maybe it’s the new ownership under Gabe Plotkin and Rick Schnall, or maybe people just like the teal and purple.
Tickets for the upcoming home stand are actually cheap. You can get into the building for $14 to see the Cavs or as low as $8 for the 76ers on January 26. Honestly, for the price of a burger in Uptown, you can watch NBA basketball. That’s a win in any book.
The March Home Stand Could Save the Season
If the Hornets survive this road-heavy January, March is where they can make a move. They have a massive seven-game home stand.
- March 3: vs. Dallas Mavericks
- March 6: vs. Miami Heat
- March 17: vs. Miami Heat (again)
- March 19: vs. Orlando Magic
- March 21: vs. Memphis Grizzlies
- March 24: vs. Sacramento Kings
- March 26: vs. New York Knicks
That’s a lot of home cooking. If they can go 5-2 or better in that stretch, the Play-In tournament isn't just a fantasy—it’s a target. But the fatigue factor is real. Miles Bridges is playing 33.4 minutes a night. He’s the engine, but even engines overheat.
What the Experts Get Wrong
The national media loves to say the Hornets are "one piece away." They aren't. They are "one healthy season away." The talent is there. Between LaMelo, Miller, and the emergence of Ryan Kalkbrenner at center, the core is solid. The issue has always been the training room.
The schedule for April is the final boss. They finish with the Celtics, Knicks, and Pistons. If they need those wins to get into the postseason, it’s going to be a bloodbath. Boston usually rests its starters by then, but their bench is better than most teams' starters.
Actionable Steps for Hornets Fans
If you're planning to follow the rest of the season, don't just wing it.
- Download the FanDuel Sports Network app now if you're in-market; don't wait until tip-off to realize your login doesn't work.
- Check the injury report two hours before tip. With this team, a "questionable" tag usually means a 50/50 shot of the star player sitting.
- Look at the March 3 game against Dallas. It’s one of the few times you’ll see Luka Dončić in Charlotte this year, and tickets will spike as the date gets closer.
- Keep an eye on the rookie Kon Knueppel. If he stays on this trajectory, his jersey is going to be the top seller at the Hornets Fan Shop by the end of the year.
The charlotte hornets game schedule is a marathon, not a sprint. We’ve seen the flashes of brilliance—the 150-point game against Utah, the overtime grit against Cleveland. Now, it’s just about whether they can find some consistency before the final buzzer of the regular season sounds in mid-April.