The Los Angeles Lakers (25-18) travel to the Spectrum Center to take on the Charlotte Hornets (12-30) on Monday night. The game tips off at 7:00 PM ET and features two teams in very different positions. The Lakers are in the middle of a playoff push, while the Hornets continue to struggle at the bottom of the Eastern Conference standings.
Los Angeles has won three straight games, including an impressive road victory over Golden State on Saturday. Charlotte, on the other hand, has shown signs of life by winning four of their last six games. This will be their first meeting since February 2024, a game the Lakers narrowly won 124-118.
Lakers Preview – Building Momentum on the Road
The Lakers come into this matchup riding a three-game win streak, and their star duo of Anthony Davis and LeBron James remains the driving force. Davis is averaging 25.9 points and 11.9 rebounds per game and is coming off a dominant 36-point, 13-rebound performance against the Warriors. LeBron, averaging 23.7 points and 9.0 assists, continues to orchestrate the offense while delivering in crunch time.
Los Angeles has also received a boost from the return of Jared Vanderbilt, who made his season debut on Saturday. Vanderbilt’s energy and versatility on both ends of the floor add a new dimension to the Lakers’ rotation. Austin Reaves has been a key contributor as well, providing scoring and playmaking in support of the team’s stars.
The Lakers are 9-12 on the road this season and will need to maintain their defensive focus against a Hornets team that can score in bunches when healthy. Limiting turnovers and controlling the boards will be critical to keeping their win streak alive.
Hornets Preview – Turning the Corner?
Despite their overall struggles this season, the Hornets have shown improvement recently, winning four of their last six games. LaMelo Ball is the centerpiece of Charlotte’s attack, averaging 28.9 points per game. Ball’s ability to push the pace and create opportunities for his teammates has been a bright spot for the Hornets, especially as they’ve dealt with injuries throughout the roster.
Charlotte welcomed back key players like Miles Bridges and Seth Curry in their most recent win, a dominant 123-92 victory over New Orleans. Bridges and Curry bring much-needed scoring depth, while Moussa Diabate stepped up with 13 rebounds off the bench in the absence of Mark Williams. Williams, however, remains questionable for Monday due to foot soreness.
For the Hornets to have a chance, they’ll need to match the Lakers’ intensity on the glass and hit their outside shots. Charlotte tied a franchise record with nine players hitting at least one three-pointer against New Orleans, and that kind of shooting effort will be necessary to compete with Los Angeles.
Betting Prediction
The Lakers are favored by 5.5 points, with the total set at 222.5. While Los Angeles has the star power and momentum, Charlotte has been playing inspired basketball lately, particularly at home. With LaMelo Ball leading the way and key players returning to the lineup, the Hornets have the potential to keep this game closer than expected.
Projected final score: Los Angeles 114, Charlotte 112. The Hornets will cover the spread, but the Lakers’ experience and depth should carry them to a narrow victory. The under is the better play as both teams may struggle to maintain consistent offensive flow.
Pick: Charlotte +5.5, Under 222.5
