Adam Williams presents his prediction for the NBA match.
After two statement victories over the Boston Celtics (117:96) and Golden State Warriors (118:108), where LeBron James shined, the Lakers return to the grind of regular season play. They’ll kick off the new week with a road game against the Charlotte Hornets, the second-to-last team in the Eastern Conference standings.
Charlotte Hornets
Despite their overall struggles, the Hornets tend to perform well at home. Over the weekend, they handed the New Orleans Pelicans (123:92), even though the Pelicans had been in good form. Five Hornets players scored in double figures, with LaMelo Ball and Miles Bridges each putting up 20+ points. This marked the 12th time this season the Hornets have covered the spread as home underdogs—a record bested only by the Toronto Raptors (14).
Los Angeles Lakers
Following this game, the Lakers face a tough back-to-back against the Philadelphia 76ers, so it’s likely they’ll look to conserve energy. LeBron James and Anthony Davis both went all out in the games against the Boston Celtics and Golden State Warriors. Davis, for instance, played 36.5 minutes against the Warriors—above his usual 34—making it likely he’ll see limited minutes if this game turns into garbage time. The same goes for James, who continues to manage an ankle issue.
Charlotte Hornets vs Los Angeles Lakers Prediction
The Lakers have struggled in the role of away favourites this season, covering the spread in just 37% of such games—ranking among the league’s worst. A recent example includes their narrow 102:101 win over the Brooklyn Nets, where they failed to cover a spread of -9.5. In this match, the spread for the Hornets appears the more dependable choice.
