After getting blown out by the Denver Nuggets on Wednesday, the Charlotte Hornets are back it to take on the Los Angeles Lakers in the second night of a back-to-back. It’s time to continue our NBA odds series and make a Hornets-Lakers prediction and pick using currently available data.
The Hornets have been a welcoming surprise this year, currently sitting at 20-19 overall and right in the middle of the log jam in the Eastern Conference. LaMelo Ball has come into the league more polished with his game than most initially thought. He's been a mainstay in the starting lineup for head coach James Borrego and the Hornets have fed off his energy.
The Lakers will once again be without Anthony Davis, but it hasn't slowed them in the second half. The Lakers are 3-0 post all-star break and they've been getting it done on the defensive side of the ball.
NBA odds gathered by BetOnline.
NBA Odds: Hornets – Lakers Odds
Charlotte Hornets +8 (-115)
Los Angeles Lakers -8 (-105)
Over 224.5 points (-110)
Under 224.5 points (-110)
Why the Hornets Could Cover the Spread
Charlotte has been a fun team to watch this year. They have a variety of contributors on offense including Ball, Gordon Hayward, Terry Rozier and Devonte' Graham, amongst others.
While they did get demolished by Denver on Wednesday, they had won the previous four contests before the letdown to the Nuggets. They've been playing good basketball at the right time of the year to be doing it.
A lot of people will shy away from a road dog on the second night of a back-to-back, but Charlotte has done fine in that role this year. They are 5-3 with zero rest between games, so that shouldn't be an issue.
The Lakers have been playing tremendous as of late but they're still banged up. They will once again be without Anthony Davis, Marc Gasol and Alex Caruso tonight against Charlotte. While it hasn't been a problem in the last three games, the depth of the Hornets could be a key tonight for Charlotte.
The Hornets are 9-10 against the spread on the road and 8-11 straight up. They don't drastically dip off away from home.
Why the Lakers Could Cover the Spread
Los Angeles has been a vibe in the second half even without Anthony Davis. Montrezl Harrell has really elevated his game to another level with the increased role due to a couple of the bigs in Davis and Gasol being out. The Lakers haven't skipped a beat after sputtering to the end entering the all-star break. A recharge and a reset might be exactly what the Lakers needed as they have looked rejuvenated.
Getting it down with their defense, the Lakers have held the Pacers and Warriors to 100 points or less in two of their most recent games. As the calendar has flipped to March it's that time of the year where LeBron really dials it in and gets things right entering the postseason. The Lakers are the favorites tonight and rightfully so.
The spread tonight is 8 and in Charlotte's last seven losses, all have come by more than eight points.
Final Hornets – Lakers Prediction and Pick
I believe the number is a little too high in this one. There isn't a ton of room for error, but the Hornets have done just fine on the road this season and conversely, as a home favorite, the Lakers are just 9-11-0 against the spread this season.
While I'm not suggesting the Hornets come in and run the Lakers out of the building, I do believe they play more like the team that won four straight before losing to Denver on Wednesday. This team has confidence, plays well and has plenty of firepower on offense. The Lakers flat out haven't been great against the spread in general or at home.
FINAL SCORE PREDICTION AND PICK USING NBA ODDS: CHA 108, LAL 112 (CHA +8)
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