Charlotte Hornets vs Los Angeles Lakers Betting Pick & Prediction 1/9/25
At 10:30 ET, the Lakers (-306) will host the Hornets (+248) in a non-conference matchup. Los Angeles is favored by 8 points, and the over/under line is set at 222.5.
SN-LA will have the TV coverage for this game, which will be played at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles. The Lakers (20-16) are currently on a 2-game losing streak and are 6th in the Western Conference. Meanwhile, the Hornets (8-27) are 13th in the East and 4th in the Southeast Division.
CHARLOTTE HORNETS VS LOS ANGELES LAKERS BETTING PICK
The Pick: Charlotte Hornets +8
This game will be played at Crypto.com Arena at 10:30 ET on Thursday, January 9th.
WHY BET THE CHARLOTTE HORNETS:
- We have this one finishing with a projected score of 133-126 in favor of the Hornets.
- Our projections have LaMelo Ball finishing with 27 points, 5 rebounds and 7 assists.
- From the field, we have the Hornets finishing with a field goal percentage of 45.0% and knocking down 15 threes.
Will the Hornets Defense Show Up on the Road?
The Hornets improved to 8-27 on the season with a 115-104 win over the Suns on Tuesday. Charlotte, who were +5 point underdogs, not only won but covered the spread. The game’s total of 219 points fell short of the 226-point over/under line.
Charlotte’s key moment came with a 14-0 run, turning a 40-36 deficit into a 50-40 lead. They dominated the 2nd quarter, outscoring Phoenix 37-17, and held on in the 4th quarter, winning it 27-21 to seal the victory.
LaMelo Ball’s 32-point, 10-rebound performance, including 13 points in the 3rd quarter, led the Hornets to a win over the Suns. He hit 5 threes, despite shooting just 31.2% from deep.
As a team, the Hornets shot 38.8% from the field and 27.7% from three, making 13 threes. Miles Bridges added 21 points, and Nick Richards contributed 15 points and 12 rebounds.
The Hornets put together a strong defensive effort on Tuesday, holding the Suns to 104 points on 42% shooting. Charlotte was particularly effective in the 2nd quarter, allowing just 17 points, and they tightened up again in the 4th, giving up only 21 points to secure the win.
Charlotte’s defense was especially tough from beyond the arc, where they limited Phoenix to just 8 made threes on 24% shooting. The Hornets also finished with 39 defensive rebounds, gave up 8 offensive boards, and added 9 steals and 5 blocks.
Will the Lakers Live Up to Expectations at Home?
The Lakers dropped to 20-16 on the season after a 118-97 road loss to the Mavericks on Tuesday. Los Angeles, who entered the game as 6.5-point favorites, failed to cover the spread. The total score of 215 points fell just short of the 218-point over/under line.
Dallas took control with a 13-0 run, extending their lead from 50-47 to 60-50. The Mavericks outscored the Lakers 31-23 in the 2nd quarter and 34-26 in the 3rd, leaving L.A. trailing 89-76 heading into the 4th. Dallas finished strong, outscoring the Lakers 29-21 in the final quarter.
In their 118-97 loss to the Mavericks, the Lakers’ offense struggled, shooting just 45.3% from the field and 31.4% from three-point range, connecting on 11 threes. Anthony Davis led the way with 21 points, 12 rebounds, and 10 of his points came in the 1st quarter.
LeBron James added 18 points, 10 rebounds, and 8 assists, while Austin Reaves contributed 15 points, hitting 4 threes at 36.4%. Dalton Knecht scored 10 of his 13 points in the 4th quarter, and Max Christie added 12 points, with 9 coming in the 2nd quarter.
The Lakers’ defense struggled on Tuesday, giving up 118 points to the Mavericks, including 31 points in the 2nd quarter and 34 in the 3rd. Dallas shot 52% from the field.
Los Angeles had trouble defending the three, allowing 18 made threes at a 47% clip. They sent the Mavericks to the line 14 times, where they made 10 free throws.