Charlotte Hornets at Los Angeles Lakers NBA Picks & Predictions 1/5/2018

Friday, January 5, 2018

Staples Center

Get todays NBA odds and lines on this game.

The Charlotte Hornets travel to Staples Center to play the Los Angeles Lakers on Friday, January 5, 2018. The opening line for this matchup has Charlotte as 2 point favorites.

The Hornets come into this game with an overall record of 14-23. They are 3rd in the Southeast Division. They currently have a point differential of -1.4 as they are averaging 104.9 points per game while giving up 106.3 per contest. The Lakers have an overall mark of 11-26. They currently are 5th in the Pacific Division. They are averaging 106.7 points per contest and giving up 111.8, which is a point differential of -5.1.

Valuable Charlotte Hornets Betting Trends

The Charlotte Hornets are 15-19-3 against the spread

The Charlotte Hornets are 16-20-1 against the over/under

Important Los Angeles Lakers Betting Trends

The Los Angeles Lakers are 17-20-0 against the spread

The Los Angeles Lakers are 21-16-0 against the over/under

Key Charlotte Hornets Injuries

12/07/17 F Cody Zeller Knee is out indefinitely

Key Los Angeles Lakers Injuries

01/03/18 PG Lonzo Ball Shoulder is "?" Friday vs Charlotte

Player Spotlight

Kemba Walker averages 21.4 points per game in 34.7 minutes per contest this season. He averages 5.8 assists per contest and 3.4 rebounds per game for Charlotte. His field goal percentage is 42% for the year while his free throw percentage is 84%. Dwight Howard comes into this contest averaging 15.7 points per game while playing 30 minutes per night so far this season for the Hornets. He pulls down 12.2 rebounds per game and dishes out 1.5 assists per game as well. His field goal percentage is 54% while his free throw percentage is currently at 55%.

Player Spotlight

Jordan Clarkson averages 14.3 points per game this season and he sees the court an average of 23.2 minutes per contest. He also averages 2.8 rebounds per contest and 3.1 assists per game. His field goal percentage is 45% and his free throw percentage is 76%. Kyle Kuzma averages 17.5 points per game while playing 31.9 minutes per contest this year for the Lakers. He grabs 6.4 rebounds per game and has 1.7 assists per contest on the year. His field goal percentage is 47% and his free throw percentage currently is at 74%.

Useful Team Statistics

The Hornets allow 106.3 points per game to their opponents which ranks them 18th in the league. They also allow a 46% shooting percentage and a 35% average from behind the arc, ranking them 13th and 6th in those defensive categories. Opponents average 43.6 rebounds a game which ranks 21st, and they give up 23.4 assists per contest which puts them in 19th place in the league. They force 13.9 turnovers per game which ranks them 6th in the league. Charlotte averages 104.9 points per contest this season, which ranks them 16th in the NBA. Their average scoring margin is -1.35 and their shooting percentage is 44% as a team, which has them ranked 29th. Behind the arc they shoot 35% which is good for 23rd in the league. They average 46.3 rebounds per game and 20.7 assists per game, which ranks them 2nd and 27th in those offensive categories. In the turnover department they rank 29th with 13.1 per game.

Useful Team Statistics

The Lakers surrender 111.8 points per contest, which ranks them 29th in the NBA. Their defense is allowing a 46% shooting percentage and a 34% average from 3-point range, ranking them 18th and 4th in those defensive statistics. They rank 18th with 23.3 assists allowed per contest, and 28th with 45.6 rebounds surrendered per game. The Lakers are 24th in the NBA in forcing turnovers with 15.5 per game this season. Los Angeles is 11th in the league with 106.7 points per game this year. They are 19th in the league in shooting at 45%, while their average scoring margin is -5.14. They shoot 33% from 3-point range, which is good for 30th in the NBA. They are 3rd in the league in rebounding with 46.1 boards per game and 8th in assists per contest with 23.1. The Lakers are 2nd in turnovers per game with 16.5.

Advanced Statistics

The Hornets are 22nd in the league in defensive rating with 107.4, and their offensive rating of 106 is ranked 18th. They are 9th in the NBA in pace with 98.4 possessions per 48 minutes, and their eFG% of 49% is 30th. As a unit they are 27th in the league in true shooting percentage with 53% and they shoot 3-pointers on 29% of their shot attempts, ranking 24th in the NBA. Charlotte is 30th in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 11.7 times per 100 possessions while forcing 12.7 on defense. Their defensive eFG% for the year currently is 52%, which is 18th in the NBA.

Advanced Statistics

Los Angeles is 6th in the NBA in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 14.1 times per 100 possessions while forcing 13.4 on the defensive end. Their defensive effective field goal percentage for the season currently is 52%, which is 16th in the league. The Lakers are 28th in the NBA in offensive rating with 103.5, and their defensive rating of 108.5 is ranked 16th. In terms of pace they are 1st in the league with 101.4 possessions per 48 minutes, and their effective field goal percentage of 50% is 25th. As a team they are 28th in the NBA in true shooting percentage with 53% and they shoot 3-pointers on 30% of their shots, ranking 22nd in the league.

Who will win tonight's Hornets/Lakers NBA game against the spread?

Tony's Pick: Take Charlotte -2

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