Blake Daniels, January 2, 2023

0 COMMENTS

The Los Angeles Lakers play the final stop of their five-game road trip on Monday when they take on the Charlotte Hornets at the Spectrum Center.

Los Angeles is coming off a 130-121 win over the Atlanta Hawks on LeBron James’ 38th birthday. James scored a season-high 47 as the Lakers improved to 2-2 on their current road trip. Los Angeles is however just 2-5 SU in their last 7 games played and they are 15-21 SU on the season and in the bottom of the Pacific Division team standings, and 13th in the Western Conference team standings.

Charlotte was beaten by Brooklyn 123-106 in their last game. The Hornets are just 3-7 SU in their last 10 games played and they are next to last in the Eastern Conference with a 10-27 record. The Hornets beat the Lakers 134-130 in Los Angeles right before the Lake Show went on this five-game road trip.

Los Angeles Lakers

The Lakers rebounded from a loss to the Miami Heat by beating the Atlanta Hawks in their most recent game. LeBron James had a near triple-double with 47 points, 10 rebounds, and 9 assists to lead the Lakers. Thomas Bryant also had a big game with 19 points and 17 rebounds while Russell Westbrook added 14 points, 8 rebounds, and 11 assists in the win.

Los Angeles is averaging 116 points per game but scored 130 in their last game while shooting 54.2% From the field and 31.3% from deep. The Lakers are, however, giving up 117.7 points per game this season and they surrendered 121 against the Hawks. They will need a better defensive effort to shut down the Hornets at their hive.

The Lakers will be without Anthony Davis once again while Lonnie Walker IV is listed as questionable. However, LeBron James is coming off a month where he averaged 31.2 points per game and just scored his season-high the last time out.

Charlotte Hornets

The Hornets could not keep up with the momentum of their win over the OKC Thunder as they lost to the Brooklyn Nets in the game after that. LaMelo Ball scored 23 points while also grabbing 7 rebounds and issuing 11 assists. Mason Plumlee also contributed a double-double with 22 points and 10 rebounds while Terry Rozier added 16 points and 5 rebounds in the losing effort.

Ball has scored at least 20 points in 11 consecutive games and is slowly getting his game back since returning from injury. PJ Washington led the Hornets with 24 when they beat the Lakers 134-130 the last time these teams played in Los Angeles.

Charlotte is also struggling defensively. They are allowing 118 points per game and surrendered five more than that to the Nets. On the other hand, the Hornets are scoring 111.3 points per game this season but scored just 106 against Brooklyn. Kelly Oubre Jr. and Dennis Smith Jr. are both listed as questionable for this contest.

Lakers vs Hornets SU Prediction

The Lakers are 7-3 SU in their last 10 games played against the Hornets. Los Angeles is also 3-2 SU in their last 5 games played in Charlotte.

Los Angeles Lakers SU trends:

• The Lakers are 2-5 SU in their last 7 games played.
• The Lakers are 2-4 SU in their last 6 games played on the road.
• The Lakers are 1-4 SU in their last 5 January games played.
• The Lakers are 4-2 SU in their last 6 games played against the Southeast Division.

Charlotte Hornets SU trends:

• The Hornets are 3-12 SU in their last 15 games played.
• The Hornets are 1-6 SU in their last 7 games played at home.
• The Hornets are 6-2-1 SU in their last 9 games played against the Western Conference.
• The Hornets are 9-4 SU in their last 13 January games played.

The Lakers are in trouble because Anthony Davis is still out with an injury and they are just 2-5 in their last 7 games played. However, LeBron James has been playing well as of late, leading the Lakers in scoring in each of their last six games, and is coming off a monster 47-point birthday game against the Hawks.

Charlotte beat Los Angeles 134-130 in the Lakers’ last home game before this road trip. PJ Washington led the Hornets with 24 points in that game but since that game LaMelo Ball has been the team’s top scorer. Ball has scored at least 20 points in 11 consecutive games so he is getting his game back.

The Hornets have lost six out of their last seven at home. Their last loss was against the Brooklyn Nets last Sunday with stars Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving leading the way and the Hornets unable to stop the two stars.

The Lakers have only one star on Monday but LeBron is putting up 29.7 points per game on the road this season and has seen his scoring improve to 31.2 points per game in 14 games played in December.

Charlotte doesn’t have the muscle to keep LeBron off the shaded lane and prevent him from getting easy baskets. If LeBron James shows up with his A-Game, it will be hard for the Hornets to keep up.

Prediction: Los Angeles Lakers

Lakers vs Hornets ATS Prediction

The Lakers are 15-5-1 ATS in their last 21 games played against the Hornets. Los Angeles is 9-0 ATS in their last 9 meetings in Charlotte.

Los Angeles Lakers ATS trends:

• The Lakers are 2-6 ATS in their last 8 games overall.
• The Lakers are 3-7 ATS in their last 10 road games
• The Lakers are 10-2 ATS in their last 12 games vs. a team with a losing straight-up record.
• The Lakers are 6-2 ATS in their last 8 road games against a team with a home winning % of less than .400.
• The Lakers are 5-2 ATS in their last 7 games versus a team with a winning % below .400.
• The Lakers are 19-43-1 ATS in their last 63 games following a straight-up win.
• The Lakers are 2-5 ATS in their last 7 when their opponent scores 100 points or more in their previous game.
• The Lakers are 2-6 ATS in their last 8 after allowing 100 points or more in their previous game.
• The Lakers are 2-6 ATS in their last 8 when their opponent allows 100 points or more in their previous game
• The Lakers are 1-5 ATS in their last 6 Monday games
• The Lakers are 1-6 ATS in their last 7 after scoring 100 points or more in their previous game
• The Lakers are 0-3-1 ATS in their last 4 games following an ATS win
• The Lakers are 0-4 ATS in their last 4 games after scoring more than 125 points in their previous game.

Charlotte Hornets ATS trends:

• The Hornets are 1-4 ATS in their last 5 home games.
• The Hornets are 4-0-1 ATS in their last 5 games following a straight-up loss.
• The Hornets are 5-1-1 ATS in their last 7 games following a double-digit loss at home.
• The Hornets are 7-3-3 ATS in their last 13 games following a straight-up loss of more than 10 points.
• The Hornets are 21-9-1 ATS in their last 31 home games vs. a team with a road winning % of less than .400.
• The Hornets are 2-5-1 ATS in their last 8 home games vs. a team with a losing road record.

The Lakers are playing their 5th straight road game so they could be tired. However, they will be playing a Hornets team that is struggling on both ends of the court. Charlotte ranks 25th in scoring and 28th in scoring defense this season and they are at the bottom of the Southeast Division team standings.

The Lakers are also at the bottom of the Pacific Division and will be without Anthony Davis but their offense has improved with LeBron James putting the team on his 38-year-old shoulders. The Lakers are 7th in the NBA in scoring and even if their defense isn’t that good, they have the firepower to outgun this Hornets team in a shootout.

Against the elite teams, this Lakers team may come up short but against teams that they are favored against, they usually play to expectation. The Hornets have failed to cover in each of their last nine home games against the Lakers. Give me the Lakers here.

Prediction: Los Angeles Lakers -1

Lakers vs Hornets Over/Under Prediction

The total has gone over in six out of the last 8 games played between these two teams. The over is also 5-2 in the last 7 meetings in Charlotte.

Los Angeles Lakers over/under trends:

• The over is 6-1 in the Lakers’ last 7 overall.
• The over is 8-1 in the Lakers’ last 9 road games.
• The over is 6-1 in the Lakers’ last 7 after allowing 100 points or more in their previous game.
• The over is 12-2 in the Lakers’ last 14 when their opponent scores 100 points or more in their previous game.
• The over is 5-1 in the Lakers’ last 6 after scoring 100 points or more in their previous game.
• The over is 13-3 in the Lakers’ last 16 when their opponent allows 100 points or more in their previous game.
• The under is 4-1 in the Lakers’ last 5 games playing on 2 days’ rest.
• The over is 4-1 in the Lakers’ last 5 versus a team with a losing straight-up record.

Charlotte Hornets over/under trends:

• The under is 4-0 in the Hornets’ last 4 overall.
• The under is 4-0 in the Hornets’ last 4 games after allowing 100 points or more in their previous game.
• The under is 4-0 in the Hornets’ last 4 games when their opponent allows 100 points or more in their previous game.
• The under is 4-0 in the Hornets’ last 4 games when their opponent scores 100 points or more in their previous game.
• The under is 4-0 in the Hornets’ last 4 after scoring 100 points or more in their previous game.
• The under is 7-3-1 in the Hornets’ last 11 home games against a team with a losing road record.
• The under is 7-2-1 in the Hornets’ last 10 home games versus a team with a road winning % of less than .400.
• The under is 13-5 in the Hornets’ last 18 Monday games.
• The under is 18-7-1 in the Hornets’ last 26 home games.
• The over is 5-2 in the Hornets’ last 7 games following a straight-up loss of more than 10 points
• The over is 4-0 in the Hornets’ last 4 against a team with a losing straight-up record.
• The over is 4-1 in the Hornets’ last 5 games following a double-digit loss at home.

The total has gone over in seven out of the Lakers’ last 10 games played. The over is also 3-1 in the first four games of this current road trip. The Lakers are 7th in the NBA in scoring and both these teams are in the bottom 5 in scoring defense this season.

Without Anthony Davis, the Lakers’ defense is compromised and that’s the reason why they have upped their scoring in recent games. Los Angeles cannot beat teams with their defense. But they have the offense to outgun several teams in the league. The Hornets are one of those.

Prediction: Over 232.5