Charlotte Hornets vs. Washington Wizards: A History of the Rivalry

When Do the Charlotte Hornets and Washington Wizards Play Next?

Charlotte Hornets tickets and Washington Wizards tickets can be found on their respective team pages, along with schedule information.

Are the Charlotte Hornets and the Washington Wizards Rivals?

When the Charlotte Hornets franchise debuted in 1988, the Washington Wizards (then Bullets) were in the same division. But it was only for one season, as the league shuffled around alignments due to expansion. The teams were placed back in the same division in 2004, when Washington was the Wizards and Charlotte was known as the Bobcats. Since then, the Hornets-Wizards rivalry has taken place in the Eastern Conference Southeastern Division. While it may not be a truly heated rivalry, the battles between these two teams have been even.

Who are the Charlotte Hornets’ Biggest Rivals?

The Charlotte Hornets are still building rivalries against opponents in the Eastern Conference. The franchise enjoyed some early success in the mid-to late-1990s with stars like Larry Johnson, Glen Rice, Vlade Divac, and more. But overall, the team has never advanced further than the second round of the playoffs. The current squad, led by LaMelo Ball, looks to change that.

Who are the Washington Wizards’ Biggest Rivals?

The biggest rival for the Washington Wizards is the Cleveland Cavaliers. The Washington franchise has been around since 1961 when it was known as the Chicago Packers. The rivalry with Cleveland didn’t pick up steam until the mid-to late-1970s. By then, the Packers were known as the Washington Bullets and the Bullets met the Cavaliers in the postseason in back-to-back years in 1976 and 1977. Cleveland’s first-ever playoff series win came in 1976 against the Bullets, who got revenge the following year with a first-round victory. The following season, the Bullets won the franchise’s lone title. The franchises met in three consecutive postseasons between 2006 and 2008. LeBron James and the Cavaliers won all three of those series. The Wizards also have rivalries with the Chicago Bulls and Toronto Raptors.

Game Results Between the Hornets & Wizards

The Hornets have taken two of the first three games of the season series in 2023-2024. The Wizards won the first game, but the Hornets won back-to-back games on November 8 and 10. The game on the 10th was a part of the NBA In-Season Tournament. The final game is on March 8 in Washington.

Charlotte Hornets vs. Washington Wizards History

The Hornets vs. Wizards history has seen both teams enjoy moderate success during their shared time in the NBA. In the franchises’ all-time head-to-head battles, the Hornets have won 11 more games than the Wizards, with a current count of 71 wins compared to 60. The two franchises have never met in the postseason, which has hurt the ability to build a rivalry. Some famous names that have played for both franchises include Dwight Howard, Muggsy Bogues, Kelly Oubre Jr., and Montrezl Harrell. Both franchises have had Bernie Bickerstaff as their head coach.

Where Do the Washington Wizards and Charlotte Hornets Play?

The Washington Wizards play at Capital One Arena in Washington, D.C. Capital One Arena hosts many events and is the home of the Wizards, Washington Capitals, and Georgetown Hoyas.

The Charlotte Hornets play at Spectrum Center in Charlotte, North Carolina. It is also a popular concert venue in downtown Charlotte.