The Charlotte Hornets take on the Los Angeles Lakers at Crypto.com Arena on Wednesday night, looking to snap a losing streak, while the Lakers aim to get back in the win column.
Charlotte Hornets Preview
The Hornets are struggling, having lost 11 of their last 13 games, including a tough 102-86 road defeat against the Orlando Magic. Despite a competitive first half, Charlotte faltered in the second, managing only 40 points after halftime.
Miles Bridges led the charge with 19 points, eight rebounds, and four assists, but his efficiency was lacking, hitting just six of 23 shots. Josh Green and Damion Baugh each contributed 16 points, while Taj Gibson had a double-double with 10 points and 12 boards. However, the team’s 39% shooting from the field and 8-for-26 performance from three-point range proved costly. Elfrid Payton struggled offensively with just four points, and Jusuf Nurkic, limited to 16 minutes, added only nine points.
Los Angeles Lakers Preview
The Lakers have been in stellar form, winning 12 of their last 15 games. However, their six-game winning streak came to an end in a 131-119 road loss to the Utah Jazz.
Rui Hachimura paced the team with 19 points on 8-of-15 shooting, while LeBron James added 18 points and seven assists. Luka Dončić scored 16, and Austin Reaves had a double-double with 15 points and 11 assists. Despite shooting 44% from the field and knocking down 20 three-pointers, the Lakers fell behind after conceding 40 points in the third quarter, ultimately trailing by as many as 25. Reaves had an off-night from beyond the arc, hitting just one of 10 three-point attempts, and Dalton Knecht was the only bench player to reach double figures.
Prediction: Lakers to Dominate at Home
Charlotte enters this matchup with little to play for, and they’re expected to roll out a similar lineup. Meanwhile, the Lakers remain without Gabe Vincent, Cam Reddish, and Jaxson Hayes, but their depth and star power should be more than enough against a struggling Hornets squad.
Although the Lakers edged out the Hornets 112-107 in their last meeting on Jan. 27, they had built a 23-point first-quarter lead before letting Charlotte back in the game. Expect a more dominant performance this time as Los Angeles looks to solidify their playoff positioning with a convincing win at home.
Prediction: Lakers win and cover the spread.