Ground to Make Up
The Los Angeles Lakers and Charlotte Hornets sit in last in their respective divisions, so Monday’s game is important.
LeBron James comes off an inspiring performance against the Hawks, but that’s needed for the Lakers to have any chance. Luckily, they’re playing the 10-27 Hornets, who are a pick at home with NBA betting markets.
Let’s check the latest NBA odds, stats, injury report and NBA lines for Lakers vs Hornets. We’ve plenty of NBA betting odds for you to consider.
James Carrying the Load
James is being asked an awful lot at the moment, especially for a 38-year-old. He comes off an inspiring 47-point effort against the Hawks when winning 130-121, which could be needed again.
“At 18 years old, I knew how to play the game,” James said. “I knew I belonged in the NBA, but I didn’t know what I could become at 18. But I knew if I continued to put in the work and I continued to reach into the game then I could be one of the greatest players to ever play this game.”
The Lakers have played their last four games on the road and gone 2-2, so it’s not all bad in Los Angeles. However, with only three spreads covered from their last 10 games, bettors are getting restless.
They are 14-21-1 against the spread, which is an awful record and injuries are once again playing their part. Anthony Davis’ absence is big, so the Lakers need to play well as a team just to beat teams like the Hornets.
There is trepidation with the sportsbook with the Lakers at only -1. It’s a low line for a team facing one of the worst NBA franchises.
Hornets Recent History Helps
There isn’t much going for the Hornets at 10-27, but a recent 134-130 win over the Lakers could give them enough confidence to win.
It came on the road, so it wasn’t an easy environment and James scored 34 points. However, they were able to pull away in the third quarter with a 30-20 effort, so the defense stood up.
James tried to perform a comeback, but the Hornets had too much in hand.
“We knew they were going to make a run,” said Mason Plumlee, who had 11 points and eight rebounds. “They’ve got a lot of good players, but we answered the call.”
Since the win they have gone 1-3 with a victory over the Thunder and losses to the Trail Blazers, Warriors and Nets. They were kept under 107 points in two of those losses, which is a concern.
However, the Lakers aren’t exceptional on defense, so getting open shots shouldn’t be difficult and NBA odds are respecting their chances.
Lakers vs Hornets Game Injuries
Lakers vs Hornets Head-to-Head
The Hornets covered in the most recent meeting but it was all Lakers prior. They covered the spread in eight of the previous nine games, going back to 2017.
The Lakers were favorites in five of them, so history is on the side of the visitors.
Lakers vs Hornets Game Information
- Game: Lakers (15-21) vs Hornets (10-27)
- Day/Time: Monday, Jan. 2, 7 p.m. ET
- Location: Spectrum Center, Charlotte, N.C.
- Lakers vs Hornets Live Stream: NBA Game Pass
Lakers vs Hornets Betting Lines
Lakers vs Hornets Picks & Prediction
It’s always a risk to bet on the Lakers, but it’s equally a risk to bet on the Hornets. Therefore, because James is playing well, we’re taking the Lakers to win.
They have much more upside and it’s a favorable line, so include it in NBA picks alongside under 241 points. We expect a lower-scoring contest than the last time they met.
Charlotte is listed at -120 in our Vegas NBA lines. This means that if you wager $100 on the Hornets, there’s a chance to win $83. Los Angeles is +100, offering a chance to win $100 on a $100 wager.
The implied probability attached to the betting lines gives Charlotte a 54.55% chance to win, with the Lakers at 50.00%.
Lakers vs Hornets Trends
Lakers vs Hornets Edge
Lakers vs Hornets Results
Lakers vs Hornets Game Summary
Hornets vs Lakers Picks & Previous Game (Dec. 23, 2022)
While neither team has much going for them, the Lakers at least have James. In the last games, the Lakers’ role players offered at least some production, while the Hornets offered no support for Ball.
This game could hit the over on the points total because neither team offers much resistance on defense, but at least they have talent offensively. The Lakers should still win just by having more talent.
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