Introduction
Lakers vs. Hornets Betting Odds: The Los Angeles Lakers (32–20) will face the Charlotte Hornets (13–39) on Wednesday night at Crypto.com Arena. The game, originally set for January 9, was postponed due to Los Angeles wildfires.
Luka Doncic will play for the Lakers for the third time and for the first time without an injury. Meanwhile, LeBron James (foot) remains questionable, while LaMelo Ball (ankle) and Mark Williams (reconditioning) are probable for Charlotte.
Game Odds & Betting Lines
- Spread: Lakers -12.5
- Over/Under: 229 points
- Moneyline: Lakers -746 | Hornets +520
The Lakers have won four consecutive matchups against the Hornets, including a 112-107 victory on January 27.
Why the Lakers Can Cover the Spread
With Luka Doncic heading the club, the Lakers are overwhelming favorites. This season, the All-Star guard averages 27 points, 8 rebounds, and 7.5 assists. Additionally, Doncic has demolished Charlotte in previous meetings; last season, he averaged triple-double against them.
Austin Reaves, who averages 19.1 points, 4.4 rebounds, and 6.2 assists per game, has also been a valuable addition. He has shown himself to be a reliable offensive force by scoring 20 points or more in five of his past six games.
Why the Hornets Can Cover the Spread
Miles Bridges has been Charlotte’s top performer, averaging 19.5 points, 7.7 rebounds, and 3.8 assists per game. He has put up 20+ points in seven of his last 10 outings and recently dropped 30 points and nine rebounds against Detroit.
Charlotte’s frontcourt is also set to get a boost with Mark Williams and Jusuf Nurkic in the lineup. Williams has averaged 15.6 points and 9.6 rebounds, while Nurkic contributed nine points and eight rebounds in his Hornets debut.
Prediction & Best Bets
The SportsLine Projection Model, which has simulated this game 10,000 times, leans toward the under (229 points), predicting a combined 216 points. The model also favors one side of the spread hitting in over 50% of simulations.
Tip-Off: 10:00 PM ET
Watch: FuboTV (Free Trial)
While the Lakers hold the clear advantage, Charlotte has enough firepower to keep things competitive.
Source: CBS sports
