Wait, what? Yes, the Charlotte Hornets are favorites over the Golden State Warriors

Vegas likes the Hornets to beat a depleted Warriors team on Saturday.

Because Stephen Curry played at Davidson, grew up in Charlotte and is the son of one of the most beloved Hornets ever -- Dell Curry -- the Hornets' match-ups with the Golden State Warriors are always circled on the calendar, even if the Hornets don't have a chance of winning, which has been the case for the last several seasons.

Since the beginning of the 2014-15 season, the Hornets have won 1-of-10 games vs. the Warriors.

But Saturday night is going to be different. The Hornets have a legitimate chance at beating the warriors in Oakland and are actually favored by 3.5 points according to most sportsbooks. (If you thought a month ago that the Hornets would be favored in any game against the Warriors this season, well, I have some beachfront property in Preston, Maryland to sell you.)

Much of the Hornets being favored in Saturday's cross-conference clash has to do with Curry's injury. The two-time MVP broke his left hand earlier this week in a loss at Phoenix when he collided with Aron Baynes. Curry had surgery Friday and is expected to miss at three months of playing time.

Also making an impact on that pregame line is a knock that Draymond Green picked up Friday in the Warriors loss to the Spurs. Green, a three-time all-star and former Defensive Player of the Year, was wearing a wrap over his left index finger and wrist after the game and told reporters he was dealing with a "ligament" issue.

Should Green not play, it will be the first time since the 2008-09 season that Charlotte faced the Warriors in a game without Curry, Green or Klay Thompson. That's because none of them were in the league then. Since Curry's rookie season in 2009-10, at least one of he, Green or Thompson has featured against Charlotte. The last time that Curry and Green both missed a game vs. the Hornets was Dec. 6, 2017, but Thompson and Kevin Durant combined for 57 points to push the Warriors to a victory. Thompson will likely miss most of this season as he recovers from an ACL injury.

While Curry and Green's injuries are obviously huge factors in the Hornets being favored, the team's recent streak of impressive play is something the odds-makers probably considered too.

The Hornets are coming off a road win over the Sacramento Kings where rookie P.J. Washington scored 23 points, Terry Rozier scored 22 points and Cody Zeller put up a double-double. James Borrego's team is playing a fun and fast-paced style and the younger players, like Washington and Devonte' Graham, have been making the most of their opportunities.

Also, consider where the Hornets rank among league leaders this season:

• The Hornets have the best three-point shooting percentage in the league at 41.9 percent.
• They are fourth in three-pointers made per-game with 15.
• They are seventh in assists, with 25.4 per-game.
• They have the ninth best three-point shooting defense, allowing opponents to connect on 32.6 percent of their attempts.
• Graham is fifth in the NBA in three-pointers made with 17.
• Charlotte is fifth in efficient field goal percentage with a 55 percent mark.
• The Hornets are also being smart with shot selection, staying away from long two-pointers. They rank 25th in shots attempted between 10-16 feet, and 28th in shots attempted between 16 feet and the three-point arc.
• Zeller is third in offensive rebounds with 20.
• Graham is tied for sixth in assists with 38.
• Graham is 10th in offensive win shares with a 0.7 mark.

Despite a 2-3 record, the early returns on the numbers for the Hornets are impressive. A few players have shined amidst the youth movement, and they could gain more confidence ahead of a three-game road stand with a win in Golden State on Saturday.

How to watch

Tonight's game tips off at 8 p.m. ET on Fox Sports Southeast.