Fade Lakers to Cover Spread vs Hornets
Since winning the inaugural NBA In-Season Tournament, the Los Angeles Lakers have struggled, only winning two of eight games. They will get to host an underwhelming Charlotte Hornets team to get back on track. However, this game could still be interesting for ATS NBA picks.
In the Hornets’ last game, they lost their eighth straight, falling to the Los Angeles Clippers 113-104 on the road while covering a double-digit spread. The Lakers also lost their last game, beaten by the Boston Cels 126-115 on Christmas Day.
Hornets vs Lakers Game Information
- Game: Hornets (7-21) vs. Lakers (16-15)
- Location: Crypto.com Arena, Los Angeles, CA
- Day/Time: Thursday, Dec. 28, 10:30 p.m. ET
- Hornets vs Lakers Live Stream: NBA League Pass, NBA Game Pass
Both teams would need a win in this matchup, but only the Lakers have the overall talent to pull it off. However, betting lines for the NBA do open the door to the Hornets potentially covering a sizable spread.
Hornets vs Lakers Odds and Spreads
Hornets vs Lakers Betting Trends
- Lakers are 0-5 ATS in their last 5 games as a favorite.
- Lakers are 0-4 ATS in their last 4 games as an underdog of 11.0 or greater.
- Lakers are 0-4 ATS in their last 4 games as a favorite of 0.5-4.5.
- Under is 7-0 in Lakers last 7 games as a home favorite.
- Under is 6-0 in Lakers last 6 home games vs. a team with a losing road record.
- Under is 5-0 in Hornets last 5 games as an underdog of 11.0 or greater.
- Lakers are 6-1 ATS in their last 7 games following a straight up loss of more than 10 points.
- Over is 6-0 in Lakers last 6 games as an underdog.
Against the Spread Pick: Hornets +12½ -110
Going with the Hornets to cover the NBA spread is not putting a lot of faith in them. If anything, this pick is being made to oppose the Lakers, given how bad they have played recently.
Since winning the In-Season Tournament and doing so by going unbeaten in the six games, the Lakers have only two wins through the last eight. One of those wins came against the San Antonio Spurs, the second-worst record in the league, and the other was an upset against the Oklahoma City Thunder two games ago.
Anthony Davis dropped 40 PTS and 13 REB in a tough #NBAXmas loss to the Celtics 🎄 pic.twitter.com/XPeq88d7BV
— NBA (@NBA) December 26, 2023
However, whatever momentum from the win against the Thunder might have been built up could have faded after the loss to the Celtics. The Lakers still fell short despite Anthony Davis scoring 40 points with 13 rebounds. LeBron James struggled with just 16 points but did have nine rebounds and eight assists.
On top of that, the Hornets can be a solid option to cover large spreads in NBA picks. They have been 10-point dogs in five straight games, covering the last two.
Over/Under Pick: Under 227 (-110)
This game could be a difficult option in NBA expert picks. There is a chance that the Lakers will come out firing on all cylinders offensively, knowing they are playing a lesser opponent and that a win would be crucial. The Hornets could still backdoor cover, having the offensive talent to keep up.
That would force the game to hit the over, which could concern bettors. However, the more likely outcome of this game is a low-scoring win for the Lakers. The Lakers are 24th in offensive rating and the Hornets are 26th. Neither team is scoring all too well this season.
Furthermore, the Lakers’ defense has become the team’s focal point. They are ninth in defensive rating, which should slow down Charlotte’s dismal offense. If the Lakers know they won’t need to score that much to get the win, it might be hard for them to put up a scoring performance to get close to the over.
Player Prop Pick: Points, Anthony Davis Under (28.5) -104
Despite Davis being the best offensive player for the Lakers at the moment, this might not be a game in which he shines. For one, the Lakers might not need a big scoring night from him while he is still recovering from an ankle injury. The Lakers should be able to beat the Hornets with a team effort instead of Davis needing to have a big performance like in the loss to the Celtics.
Hornets vs Lakers Score Prediction
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Questions Of The Day
Will LeBron James go over 20.5 points in this game?
After a game in which LeBron James struggled on Christmas Day, he should have a bounce-back performance against the Hornets, scoring more than 20.5 points.
Which team is the most likely to win the first quarter?
The Lakers should win this game, and that should start in the first quarter, looking to make up for their last loss.
The odds and predictions in the article are based on the time of writing and publication. They may differ as to when the actual event takes place.
