Charlotte Hornets @ Los Angeles Lakers - January 9, 2025

As the Charlotte Hornets prepare to face off against the Los Angeles Lakers at Crypto.com Arena, there are several key trends and stats that suggest how this game might unfold. The oddsmakers have opened with the Lakers as -9-point favorites, which reflects their stronger overall record of 20-16 compared to Charlotte’s dismal 8-27.

Looking at recent performances, it’s clear that both teams have had their struggles. The Lakers come into this matchup after a disappointing loss to the Mavericks, where they not only failed to cover as favorites but also saw the game go under the total points. Conversely, Charlotte is coming off a win against the Suns, managing to cover as a +5-point underdog. However, despite this recent success against the spread (4-1 in their last five), they remain just 1-10 straight up in their last eleven games.

When analyzing offensive efficiency, the Lakers score an average of 112.3 points per game on a shooting percentage of 47.4%. Their three-point shooting sits at a respectable 35.6%, while they convert free throws at nearly 80%. In contrast, Charlotte lags significantly behind with just 105.8 points per game on a field goal percentage of only 42.7%. They also struggle from beyond the arc and at the free-throw line compared to LA.

Defensively, both teams show weaknesses that could impact tonight’s outcome. The Lakers grab approximately 41.6 rebounds per game and generate around 7.6 steals; however, they also commit over 16 fouls and turn over the ball more than they’d like (13.5 times). On the other hand, while Charlotte does manage to secure more rebounds (45.9) and create slightly more steals (8), they suffer from higher turnover rates and foul counts.

Given these statistics and trends leading into Thursday’s matchup, I predict that Los Angeles will not only emerge victorious but will also cover that -9 point spread comfortably based on their superior scoring ability and home-court advantage—especially considering they’ve been strong against the spread lately with an impressive record of 8-3 in their last eleven games.

Furthermore, given both teams’ tendencies towards low-scoring affairs recently—evidenced by Charlotte’s five consecutive unders—the total for this matchup is likely headed under again tonight as well.

In summary: expect a solid performance from Los Angeles leading them to victory while covering the spread comfortably; meanwhile anticipate another low-scoring contest with totals remaining under expectations due to both teams’ recent struggles offensively.