The Los Angeles Lakers are hosting the Charlotte Hornets in their first game post-all-star break. In their last game, the Lakers had their six-game winning streak snapped with a double-digit loss to the Utah Jazz, 131-119. Conversely, Charlotte is coming into LA on a three-game losing streak. The Hornets lost their last game to the Orlando Magic 102-86. This should be a great game to watch as LeBron James and Luka Doncic continue to be one of the best duos in the NBA. Let’s dive into this game and cook up a winning slip!
Charlotte Hornets vs. Los Angeles Lakers Odds
| Team | Spread | Total | Money Line |
| Charlotte Hornets | +12 (-108) | Over 227 (-112) | +500 |
| Los Angeles Lakers | -12 (-112) | Under 227 (-108) | -700 |
| **Odds Subject to Change** | |||
Charlotte Hornets vs. Los Angeles Lakers Match Details
- Fixture: Charlotte Hornets @ Los Angeles Lakers
- Date and Time: February 19th, 2025 @ 10 PM EST
Key Stats
Charlotte Hornets
The Charlotte Hornets are coming off a double-digit loss to the Orlando Magic, 102-86. In the loss, Miles Bridges had 19 points, 8 rebounds, and shot 6/23 from the floor. Josh Green had a solid game with 16 points on a very efficient 7/12 shooting night. We also saw Taj Gibson turn back the clock with a double-double, 10 points, and 12 rebounds in only 22 minutes. On the season, the Hornets have a record of 13-39. A record that has Charlotte sitting at 14th place in the Eastern Conference. This is still a young and exciting team, but they are a few years away from making some noise in the East.
Despite the poor record, this is a solid defensive team. They currently rank 10th in points allowed per game, 14th in opponent field goal %, 2nd in opponent 3-point field goal %, 23rd in blocks per game, 17th in steals per game, and 5th in rebounds per game. In terms of injuries, there are a few to take note of. LaMelo Ball and Mark Williams are listed as probable for this game. LaMelo missed their last game with an ankle injury and Williams has been on a roller coaster ride. From being traded to the Lakers then the trade getting recended.
Los Angeles Lakers
The Los Angeles Lakers are coming off a double-digit loss to the Utah Jazz, 131-119. Austin Reaves had a double-double in the loss with 15 points and 11 assists. LeBron James was subpar with only 18 points, 6 rebounds, and 7 assists. Luka Doncic was still on a minutes restriction, only playing 23 minutes. In those 23 minutes, he finished the game with 16 points, 4 rebounds, 4 assists, and a team-low -19. With Head Coach JJ Reddick saying that Luka will not be on a minutes restriction moving forward, the sky is the limit for this Laker team.
Defensively, this team has been subpar for the majority of the season. They are currently ranked 12th in points allowed per game, 17th in opponent field goal %, 9th in opponent 3-point field goal %, 21st in blocks per game, 24th in steals per game, and 26th in rebounds per game. However, since the new year, the Los Angeles Lakers have the 5th best defensive rating in the NBA. So despite the numbers for the entirety of the season not being good, they have been better as of late. In terms of injuries, LeBron James is questionable with an ankle injury.
Prediction
The Los Angeles Lakers are going to steamroll the Charlotte Hornets in this game. The Lakers are the better team and the hotter team at this point in the season. Over both team’s last 10 games, the Hornets have a record of 1-9, including 4-19 on the road. Meanwhile, the Lakers have a record of 8-2, including 19-6 at home. Luka Doncic is no longer on a minutes restriction which means we are going to see Luka play his normal 30+ minutes. He is a walking 30-point triple-double and I expect him to explode in this game. The Lakers win and cover the 12-point spread in this game.
Final Pick
Los Angeles Lakers -12 (-112)
