Hornets vs. Lakers Preview
Wednesday at United Center, 10 p.m. EST
Our Pick: Lakers -12.5

The Los Angeles Lakers (32-20) host the Charlotte Hornets (13-39) on Wednesday, aiming to extend their seven-game home winning streak. Despite a challenging season for Charlotte, the Hornets struggle on the road with a 4-19 record, while the Lakers are one of the best at home, posting a 19-6 record in conference games.

The Lakers’ defense has been a key factor this season, as they allow just 46.7% shooting from opponents, even though they are at the bottom of the West in rebounding at 41.9 boards per game—led by LeBron James averaging 7.7 rebounds. Meanwhile, the Hornets lead the Eastern Conference in rebounding with 45.7 per game, anchored by Miles Bridges, who also averages 7.7 rebounds.

Offensively, the Lakers connect on 12.3 three-pointers per game, slightly lower than the 13.2 the Hornets allow, giving them a small edge on the perimeter. LeBron James is averaging 24.3 points, 7.7 rebounds, and nine assists, while Austin Reaves adds 21.5 points, 5.7 rebounds, 6.7 assists, and 1.6 steals over his last 10 games. For the Hornets, LaMelo Ball scores 27.3 points and averages 5.1 rebounds, and Bridges contributes 1.8 made threes in his recent games.

Why the Lakers Will Cover -12.5
With a dominant home record, superior defensive efficiency, and strong performances from James and Reaves, the Lakers are poised to control the game. Charlotte’s offensive struggles, combined with key injuries, should allow Los Angeles to build a significant margin and comfortably cover the -12.5 spread.