The red-hot Lakers look to keep their impressive home streak alive as they host a struggling Hornets team tonight at Crypto.com Arena. Tip-off is set for 10 p.m. ET.
Los Angeles enters as heavy favorites, and it’s easy to see why. They’re riding a seven-game winning streak at home and have been absolutely crushing it lately, winning 8 of their last 10 games.
The numbers tell the story. The Lakers are putting up an impressive 121 points per game during this hot stretch, while shooting a blistering 52.6% from the field.
This is a tough matchup for Charlotte, who’s having a really rough season. They’re just 4-19 on the road and have lost 9 of their last 10 games.
Making matters worse, the Hornets are seriously banged up. Brandon Miller and Grant Williams are both done for the season, while several other key players are questionable for tonight’s game.
The Lakers aren’t completely healthy either, but they got some good news – LeBron James is likely to play despite dealing with foot and ankle issues.
These teams met just a few weeks ago, with the Lakers taking that one 112-107. Anthony Davis dominated that game with an monster performance – 42 points and 23 rebounds.
“We’ve been playing some really good basketball lately,” Davis told reporters after practice yesterday. “The key is keeping this momentum going.”
The Lakers have owned this matchup recently, winning 10 of their last 12 against Charlotte. They’ve also been crushing Eastern Conference teams, going 9-1 in their last 10 against the East.
This game was actually supposed to happen back in January, but wildfires in the LA area forced a postponement.
The odds makers have the Lakers as 13.5-point favorites, and ESPN’s analytics give them an 86.6% chance of winning tonight.
For Hornets fans looking for a silver lining – at least the game will be available on local TV in the Carolinas for the first time since 2008.
The action tips off at 10 p.m. ET and can be caught on Bally Sports Southeast, Spectrum SportsNet, or NBA League Pass.
