The Charlotte Hornets have had a difficult start to their nine-game homestand, and things won’t get any easier when the Los Angeles Clippers visit town on Friday night.
Due to an ankle injury, star guard LaMelo Ball will not play for Charlotte, which has lost four of its previous five games, including a 1-3 loss at home.
When they play a LA team that has won seven of ten games, they are huge 14.5-point underdogs in the NBA odds. The visitors will grind the Bugs to a halt in our Clippers vs. Hornets prediction.
Our preview and NBA predictions for this game, which kicks off at 7 p.m. at the Spectrum Centre, are provided below.
Hornets vs. Clippers prediction
Under 212.5 points (-110 at bet365) is my best wager.
My evaluation
After defeating the San Antonio Spurs 128-116 on Wednesday, the Los Angeles Clippers have now won three of their previous four games and are 1-1 midway through their four-game road trip.
The Clippers are still successful because of their defence. With incredible shooting percentages of 41.7% from the field and 32.9% from 3-point range, they have restricted their opponents to 102.2 points per game over the past ten games.
Their offence, which scores 115.5 points per game and is ranked in the league’s Bottom 10, has also improved.
In addition to entering the day ahead of the play-in race in sixth place, LA is preparing Kawhi Leonard for a postseason push by incorporating him into the rotation.
The Charlotte Hornets, who are 12-32 and tied for the third-fewest victories in the NBA, are far gone from the playoffs.
LaMelo Ball will be sidelined for at least another week after suffering an ankle injury during their most recent loss to the Lakers. Mark Williams, their centre, is also sidelined due to a foot ailment.
Charlotte’s offence collapsed in a 104-83 loss against the Brooklyn Nets without LaMelo, the Hornets’ lowest-scoring performance of the year.
Ball is their lone real shooter and one of Charlotte’s few shooters, and without him, the Hornets are already the third-lowest scoring club in the NBA with only 107.5 points per game.
Aside from Brooklyn, the Hornets are 1-11 and scoring 100.7 points per game in their remaining 12 games sans LaMelo.
Nothing will change as the Clippers have won 12 straight in this head-to-head matchup, but we’ll go with the Under because that 14.5-point line is a bit too dangerous.
Since Norm Powell, 31, is enjoying an exceptional season, let’s include him in this SGP. Powell has at least 25 points in 19 games this season after dropping 27 in his most recent game against the Spurs.
Against the Hornets, his line is set for 22.5, a number he has crossed in eight of his previous eleven games. Powell also missed the Over by one point on two more occasions.
Miles Bridges, who went for 23 against the Nets after dropping 26 against the Lakers when LaMelo was injured, appears to be the de facto scoring option in Ball’s absence.
However, when playing LA, Bridges hasn’t really settled into his offensive rhythm. In seven of his eight career games, he has fallen below his 22.5 total, with the exception of a 33-piece he hung during their most recent match.
Opening odds for the Clippers vs. Hornets
Dispersed: Los Angeles Charlotte 13.5 (-110) | 13.5 (-110)
Moneyline: Charlotte (+600) | Los Angeles (-900)
More or less: More than 215.5 (-110) | Less than 215.5 (-110)
odds provided by bet365.
Spread and Over/Under analysis for the Clippers vs. Hornets
In Charlotte, the Clippers have won five in a row away from home.
In its last five games, Charlotte has a 1-3-1 record against the spread.
In eight consecutive games, LA has switched the O/U.
In four of the last six head-to-head encounters, the Over has prevailed.
Trend: Clippers vs. Hornets
The Hornets have cashed the Under in each of their last nine games without LaMelo Ball. See more Clippers vs. Hornets NBA betting trends.
Where to watch the Clippers vs. Hornets game Charlotte, North Carolina’s Spectrum Centre
Date: Friday, January 31, 2025
Tip-off time: 7:00 p.m. ET TV FDSSE, FDSSC Latest injuries for the Clippers vs. Hornets
Player Status for the Charlotte Hornets
Core Report for Cody Martin SF Out: Friday, January 31
Foot Report for Mark Williams C Out: Friday, January 31
Josh Green SG Foot Report for the Day: Friday, January 31
Display More Injuries
Status of LA Clippers Players
PG Kris Dunn Out-Knee
Date of report: Friday, January 31
Illness: Nicolas Batum SF Out
Date of report: Friday, January 31
Ankle Cam Christie SG Out
