With the NBA All-Star Weekend now in the rearview mirror, regular season action resumes on Thursday as the Los Angeles Lakers welcome the Charlotte Hornets to Crypto.com Arena. The Lakers, currently fifth in the Western Conference standings with a 32-20 record, will look to bounce back from a surprising defeat to the Utah Jazz, while the struggling Hornets (13-39) aim to find some form after a dismal run of results.
Lakers Looking to Rebound After Utah Setback
The Lakers have been one of the in-form teams in the league, winning eight of their last 10 games. However, their momentum took a hit in their previous outing, where they suffered a surprising 131-119 defeat to the Utah Jazz.
Rui Hachimura led the Lakers in scoring with 19 points and three rebounds, while LeBron James contributed 18 points and seven assists. New acquisition Luka Doncic chipped in with 16 points and four assists, but the Lakers struggled defensively and were outscored in each of the first three quarters. They trailed by as many as 18 points heading into the fourth, making a comeback virtually impossible.
Despite the setback, JJ Redick’s side will be confident heading into this matchup, particularly given their strong form at home. The Lakers have won seven straight games at Crypto.com Arena, a streak dating back to January 14, when they suffered a 126-102 loss to the San Antonio Spurs.
Statistically, the Lakers have been solid on both ends of the court. They rank 14th in the league for points per game (113.3) and are tied for 13th in points allowed per game (112.5). Additionally, they have covered the spread in 54.9% of games this season (28-23-1 ATS), underlining their reliability for bettors.
Hornets Continue to Struggle Amid Offensive Woes
The Charlotte Hornets have endured a miserable campaign, winning just one of their last 10 games. Their most recent outing saw them suffer a 102-86 defeat on the road against the Orlando Magic, marking their third straight loss.
Miles Bridges was the standout performer for Charlotte, leading the team with 19 points and eight rebounds. Josh Green and Damion Baugh added 16 points apiece, while veteran Taj Gibson contributed 10 points off the bench. However, the Hornets once again faltered in the second half, getting outscored 33-19 in the third quarter and failing to recover.
Offensive inconsistency has plagued the Hornets all season, as they rank 27th in the league in scoring with just 106.3 points per game. While their defense has been slightly better (allowing 111.8 PPG, 10th-best in the NBA), their inability to generate offense consistently has been their downfall.
Despite their poor record, the Hornets have been respectable against the spread, covering 54.7% of the time (29-24-1 ATS). However, that will be little consolation as they face a Lakers team that has been dominant at home.
Team News and Potential Lineups
Los Angeles Lakers
The Lakers may be without LeBron James, who withdrew from the All-Star Game due to discomfort in his left ankle. His availability for Thursday’s game remains uncertain.
Dorian Finney-Smith, Maxi Kleber, Cam Reddish, and Gabe Vincent also missed the loss to Utah due to injuries, and none of them are expected to feature against Charlotte.
Projected starting five:
PG: Luka Doncic
SG: Austin Reaves
SF: Rui Hachimura
PF: LeBron James (questionable)
C: Jaxson Hayes
Charlotte Hornets
The Hornets will be hoping to have LaMelo Ball back after the star guard missed the Orlando game due to an ongoing right ankle issue. His status remains questionable.
Moussa Diabate (eye), Brandon Miller (wrist), Josh Okogie (hamstring), Grant Williams (ACL), and Mark Williams (G League assignment) were all absent in the last game and remain doubtful for this contest.
Projected starting five:
PG: Dennis Smith Jr.
SG: Gary Payton II
SF: Josh Green
PF: Miles Bridges
C: Jusuf Nurkic
Prediction: Lakers to Win by Double Digits
The Lakers’ home form, coupled with Charlotte’s ongoing struggles, makes this a mismatch on paper. Even if LeBron James is unavailable, Los Angeles has the depth and firepower to take control of the game early.
Charlotte’s offensive woes make it difficult to envision them keeping pace with the Lakers, especially in a road environment. If the Lakers improve their defensive intensity after their lapse against Utah, they should be able to secure a comfortable win.
Prediction: Lakers to win by 10+ points.
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