The Charlotte Hornets were a pleasant surprise early in the season but have sunk like a rock of late. They are still alive for a postseason berth, but must turn it around after a prolonged period of losing. The Hornets hope to get back on track this week against the Los Angeles Lakers.
Despite Charlotte’s recent lull, it still has a superior record to Los Angeles. However, the Lakers are at home in this one, which could give them a slight advantage. No matter which team is favored, the spread will likely be thin as the oddsmakers forecast a competitive matchup.
At 10:30 p.m. ET, tune into NBATV for live television coverage of this NBA basketball game on Tuesday, February 28, 2017, at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, California.
We'll have NBA odds at BookMaker.eu available for this and every game on the NBA Tuesday schedule.
Odds Analysis
The Hornets are 25-33 straight up and 24-32-2 against the spread. Charlotte is 12-15-2 against the spread on the road this season. The Hornets have covered in 18 of 39 attempts as the favorite. They are 6-10-2 against the spread as the underdog.
The Lakers are 19-41 straight up and 27-32-1 against the spread. Los Angeles is 12-14-1 against the spread at home this year. The Lakers have covered in 22 of 47 games as the underdog this season. They are 5-6-1 against the spread as the favorite.
Key Stat
13. That’s the number of losses by the Hornets in their past 15 games. They were above .500 before the slide but now are far below it and clawing to get back into the postseason picture.
The Hornets have lost to the Warriors twice, the Clippers twice, the Wizards, Knicks, Kings, Jazz, Rockets, 76ers, Raptors and Pistons during this stretch. The only teams they have knocked off are the Nets and the Kings.
Charlotte won 48 games a season ago and finished as the sixth seed in the East but has regressed and is no longer seen as a team on the rise. While point guard Kemba Walker is playing a starring role, he is not getting enough support as the Hornets are short on stars.
Trade Repercussions
The Lakers shipped off their leading scorer, Lou Williams, to the Rockets near the trading deadline, which changes the forecast for the team the rest of the way.
He didn’t start this season, but averaged 18.6 points, 3.2 assists and 1.1 steals per game with Los Angeles. He was a key player and helped the Lakers to some of its rare success. His departure won’t hurt the team in the long run as it attempts to rebuild, but is a big loss in this one.
The Lakers are trying to give their young players plenty of court time. D’Angelo Russell will look to take on more of the load. He is averaging 14.5 points and 4.7 assists per game on the year and could have an uptick in those numbers the rest of the way.
Free NBA ATS Picks
The Hornets are struggling badly recently, but so too have the Lakers. They have lost four straight heading into this matchup and are just 12-15 at home straight up. Los Angeles has been one of the worst teams in the NBA throughout the year, while it seems like Charlotte certainly has a higher ceiling.
The Lakers’ home court advantage is a factor, but the Hornets can’t continue to struggle forever. They should be the choice to go on the road and capture this victory. Charlotte is close enough in the playoff race to qualify for the postseason with a strong finish to the season.
While the recent lull has hurt a lot, the Hornets have shown some signs of breaking out of late and should win this one rather easily.
NBA Odds: Hornets 112, Lakers 104
BookMaker offers play-by-play betting odds for live sporting events every day! The user-friendly wagering interface on your smartphone provides an easy way to place bets on the go. Mobile betting lines are updated by the minute, so click here to start gambling on thrilling live action at BookMaker Sportsbook!
