The Los Angeles Lakers will play a tough game against the Charlotte Hornets tonight at the Spectrum Centre as they look to move up the Western Conference standings.
My Lakers vs. Hornets predictions predict that LeBron James and Anthony Davis will both likely play against this mediocre Charlotte squad, and that they will lead Los Angeles to a resounding victory.
On Monday, January 27, before this 7 p.m. ET tip, submit your NBA picks.
Hornets vs. Lakers prediction
My favourite pick is the Lakers -6 (-110 at bet365).
My evaluation
After missing 11 games between November and December, LaMelo Ball is healthy and playing well in video games, but the Charlotte Hornets are still plagued by injuries. Although the franchise’s face is thriving, Brandon Miller, a rising second-year star who averages 21 points per game, is now finished for the season and will be joining veterans Grant Williams, Tre Mann, and Cody Martin on the bench.
A lineup of Ball, Miller, Miles Bridges, and Mark Williams should be difficult in theory, but the Hornets are currently tied with the Washington Wizards at the bottom of the Eastern Conference rankings due to injuries and a lack of depth.
With Miller and three important depth players out, it’s difficult to see them turning the season around at this point. And if LeBron James and Anthony Davis are playing tonight against the Los Angeles Lakers, they’ll undoubtedly struggle to make much of an impression.
Taking away Charlotte’s second-leading scorer would ruin an already weak offence, which ranks at 28th in points per game (107.5) and 27th in offensive rating (109). The Lakers defence is holding opponents to a solid 112.7 points per game, while the Hornets are bottom in the NBA in field-goal percentage (43.1%).
Additionally, it is allowing the second-fewest free throws (14.3) and the ninth-fewest threes (13.5) per game, which makes it much harder for this Hornets offence to get additional scoring opportunities.
With James and Davis leading the Lakers to 13th place in offensive rating (114.1), eighth place in field-goal percentage (47.5%), and sixth place in free throws per game (18.1), it is not good news for them.
The Hornets have also struggled defensively inside the arc, giving up the ninth-highest 2-point percentage in the league (55.4%) and allowing the 10th-highest number of free throws per game (17.7). They are also known for putting opponents on the line.
Charlotte simply has the offensive firepower necessary to compete with a Lakers club that has won three in a row.
I don’t think this will be a high-scoring game, even though the Lakers are ready to score enough points to cover as 6-point favourites. Charlotte is the NBA’s top Under team, and these clubs are a combined 49-36 underdogs this season.
This is partly because its offence is reprehensible and its defence has been strong, but it won’t be enough to stop LeBron totally. The Hornets are giving up 26.3 assists per game this season, while the 40-year-old leads the NBA in assists per game (9.0).
James, who has scored double figures in three of his past four games, should have every chance to reach his season average against Charlotte. He has contributed more than 8.5 assists in 19 of 40 games this season.
