Los Angeles Lakers at Charlotte Hornets - 1/2/23 NBA Picks and Prediction
The Los Angeles Lakers and the Charlotte Hornets collide at the Spectrum Center on Monday night.
The Los Angeles Lakers have been in a rut as they’ve lost five of their last seven games overall, but they will be eager to stay hot in this one after blowing past the Hawks in a 130-121 road win on Friday. LeBron James led the team with 47 points, 10 rebounds and nine assists on 18 of 27 shooting, Thomas Bryant added 19 points with 17 rebounds while Dennis Schroder chipped in with 12 points and nine assists. As a team, the Lakers shot 54 percent from the field and 10 of 32 from the 3-point line as they struggled to keep pace with the Hawks early and on trailed by as many as 15 points, but they responded with 39 points in the second quarter and never took their foot off the gas to escape with the impressive win thanks to a big night from James. Austin Reaves had a terrible shooting night as he scored just five points on one of 13 shooting from the field.
Meanwhile, the Charlotte Hornets have been in a major slump as they’ve lost 12 of their past 15 games overall and they will be hoping to bounce back after getting thrashed by the red-hot Nets in a 123-106 loss on Saturday. LaMelo Ball led the team with 23 points, seven rebounds and 11 assists, Mason Plumlee added 22 points with 10 rebounds and three assists while Terry Rozier added 16 points. As a team, the Hornets shot just 39 percent from the field and 11 of 41 from the 3-point line, but they struggled to get going and were always fighting an uphill battle after falling behind by double-digits in the first quarter. Gordon Hayward had a quiet game of just two points on one of seven shooting while the Nets were allowed to shoot a sizzling 60 percent from the field as a team.
Looking at the betting trends, the Lakers are 3-7 ATS in their last 10 road games, 10-2 ATS in their last 12 games against a team with a losing record and 2-6 ATS in their last eight games overall. The Hornets are 1-4 ATS in their last five home games and 5-1-1 ATS in their last seven games following a double-digit loss at home.
Head to head, the over is 6-2 in the last eight meetings overall, the Lakers are 15-5-1 ATS in the last 21 meetings overall and the Lakers are 9-0 ATS in the last nine meetings in Charlotte.
The Lakers will be shorthanded again as Anthony Davis is still out, but Lonnie Walker and LeBron James should both be available, while the Hornets are keeping an eye on Dennis Smith Jr who is currently listed as questionable with an ankle injury. The Lakers were able to earn a much-needed victory over the Hawks to get their season back on track and I think they can carry that momentum into this game against a Hornets team not offering up much resistance these days.
AUTHOR: Peter Tran
