NBA Betting Picks: Los Angeles Lakers vs Charlotte Hornets Lines and Best Bets on January 9

The Los Angeles Lakers aim to snap a two-game losing skid while the Charlotte Hornets gun for its second straight win as they collide this Thursday at the Crypto.com Arena.

“Los Angeles enters this matchup following back-to-back losses against the Houston Rockets and the Dallas Mavericks in their Texas road trip while Charlotte broke its ten-game losing streak with a 115-104 over the Phoenix Suns.”

(Photo by David Jensen/Getty Images)

• Despite back-to-back losses, early Los Angeles Lakers vs Charlotte Hornets betting lines have LeBron James and the Lakers as the huge 9.5-point favorite against LaMelo Ball and the Hornets.
• This will be the first of two meetings between the Lakers and the Hornets this season but it is worth noting that James and company won all their encounters last year by an average margin of 13.5 points.
• Charlotte, however, has shown some fighting resolve away from home as evident by its impressive 9-7 Against-The-Spread (ATS) road slate.

Will Ball and the rest of the Hornets win back-to-back games for the first time since November or will James and the Lakers return to the win column in dominant fashion?

As of press time, here’s how the current Los Angeles Lakers vs Charlotte Hornets odds look like as we head into this exciting clash between two teams on opposite sides of the spectrum as far as league standings are concerned.

Los Angeles Lakers vs Charlotte Hornets DraftKings NBA Odds for January 9

Moneyline

• Los Angeles Lakers: -440
• Charlotte Hornets: +340

Spread

• Los Angeles Lakers: -9.5 (-110)
• Charlotte Hornets: +9.5 (-110)

Over/Under (Total)

• OVER 217.5 (-110)
• UNDER 217.5 (-110)

Los Angeles Lakers vs Charlotte Hornets Injury Report

Los Angeles Lakers Injury Report

1. Jarred Vanderbilt – Foot – Out
2. Cam Reddish – Back – Out
3. Christian Wood – Knee – Out
4. Jalen Hood-Schifino – Hamstring – Out

Charlotte Hornets Injury Report

• No Injuries

Best NBA odds for Los Angeles Lakers vs Charlotte Hornets

• The Los Angeles Lakers beat the Charlotte Hornets by an average margin of 13.5 points in their previous two encounters. The best Los Angeles Lakers odds for the home team to cover the spread are available on DraftKings at -110.
• The Charlotte Hornets have covered the spread nine times out of their 16 road games this season. DraftKings offers the best odds for the Hornets to cover the spread at -110.
• A high-scoring affair is often in the cards when the Los Angeles Lakers and the Charlotte Hornets face off. DraftKings offers the best Los Angeles Lakers vs Charlotte Hornets odds for the over points total at -110.

Why will the Los Angeles Lakers cover the spread?

Struggles from the three-point country stopped the Los Angeles Lakers from getting something positive during their Texas road trip as they dropped a 118-97 decision to the Dallas Mavericks on Tuesday.

Los Angeles, however, gets a much favorable matchup next as they host the Charlotte Hornets. Although the Hornets beat the Phoenix Suns in their previous game, it is worth noting that their last road win came exactly a month ago.

• If that’s not good enough, the Lakers have won three of their past four home games by an average margin of 11.7 points.

Charlotte has also struggled against Western Conference squads, only winning twice against teams from the opposing conference.

For the Lakers to cover the spread versus the Hornets, they would need forward LeBron James to get more scoring touches and be more aggressive instead of settling for highly-contested jumpers.

Against the Mavericks, the 40-year old James recorded 18 points, 10 rebounds, and eight assists, which is extremely impressive but is a far-cry from his numbers during their past two home victories.

• For context, James averaged 34 points, eight assists, and three rebounds while converting 62.5% of his attempts from the field during the Lakers previous two home wins.

Boards should also be among the main focus for the Lakers, especially considering that the Hornets are one of the top rebounding teams in the league. Los Angeles lost the rebounding battle against the Mavericks 44-33 and what’s even worse is they gave away 11 second chance opportunities.

While the Hornets are among the worst teams in the league in capitalizing on second chance opportunities, the Lakers should not rely on those stat alone and do their work inside to increase their chance of covering the spread.

Why will the Charlotte Hornets cover the spread?

Crafty point guard Lamelo Ball stuffed the stat sheet as the Charlotte Hornets beat the Phoenix Suns 115-104 to snap a ten-game losing run that dates back to the second week of December.

• The 23-year old Ball recorded 32 points, 10 rebounds, seven assists, and four steals while shooting 42.9% from the field while versatile forwards Miles Bridges added 21 points for the Hornets who got a much-needed lift from their reserves.
• Charlotte’s bench was more than impressive versus the Suns as they combined for 35 points, led by slot man Nick Richards’ double-double performance of 15 points and 12 rebounds.
• Even more remarkable is the Hornets’ dominance in the boards as they out-rebounded the Suns 59-42 while generating 20 second chance opportunities.

Charlotte’s massive win comes at a perfect time as they take on the struggling Los Angeles Lakers which has dropped its past two games.

Although the Hornets enter this matchup versus the Lakers as a moderate underdog, it is worth noting that they have covered the spread nine times out of their 16 road games this season.

• Moreover, Charlotte is also riding a two-game ATS winning streak and is currently 18-13 ATS when bookmakers have them as an underdog.

Even more encouraging for Hornets punters is the current struggles of the Lakers against the Eastern Conference squads, having won just once of their past six games against teams from the other conference.

All things considered, backing the Hornets to cover the spread might offer significant value, especially with the team in full health and the Lakers currently riding a two-game losing skid.

Final Los Angeles Lakers vs Charlotte Hornets NBA Prediction: Over 217.5 (-110)

Picking a victor between the Los Angeles Lakers and the Charlotte Hornets is not exactly cut and dry like one would make you believe. On paper, the Lakers are the better team as evident of their current position in the league standings.

However, their current struggles and the Hornets’ ability to do the sensational and spectacular in one motion is making me hesitate to pull the trigger. That said, I am picking on the much better betting angle on this matchup and going on with the over points total.

With Charlotte scoring for fun in the past few games and Los Angeles having multiple offensive weapons across the floor, I expect this game to be as high scoring as it gets. It is also worth noting that the over total hit in four of their previous five regular season encounters.