Lakers vs. Hornets Prediction, Odds & Best Bet for December 23 (King James' Return Gives Huge Boost to LA)

Lakers vs. Hornets Game Info

• Date: Friday, December 23, 2022
• Time: 10:30 PM ET
• Venue: Crypto.com Arena -- Los Angeles, California
• Coverage: SportsNet LA and BSSE

Fourteen NBA matchups are slated for Friday, Dec. 23, including an inter-conference tilt at crypto.com Arena between the Los Angeles Lakers (13-18) and Charlotte Hornets (8-24).

The Lakers have now conceded 130-plus points in both of their last two games, losing 134-120 to the Sacramento Kings on Wednesday. Meanwhile, the Hornets haven't fared much better lately, dropping to 1-9 straight up in their last 10 games with a 126-105 loss to the LA Clippers two nights ago.

Can the Lakers win to help turn their season around before it's too late? Or will the Hornets figure out a way to achieve a rare road win?

Lakers vs. Hornets Odds & Spread

• All NBA betting lines, odds and prop bets are from FanDuel Sportsbook.
• Moneyline: CHA: (+132) | LAL: (-156)
• Spread: CHA: +3 (-110) | LAL: -3 (-110)
• Total: 242 -- Over: (-110) | Under: (-110)

The Lakers enter this contest as slight home favorites on the moneyline and spread per FanDuel Sportsbook's odds. This 10:30 p.m. ET clash also features an over/under of 242 points, which is the highest of Friday's totals.

Lakers vs Hornets Betting Information

Favorite	Spread	Favorite Spread Odds	Underdog Spread Odds	Total	Over Total Odds	Under Total Odds	Favorite Moneyline	Underdog Moneyline
Lakers	-3.5	-	-	235	-110	-110	-166	140

Lakers vs. Hornets Betting Trends

• The Lakers have covered the spread 12 times over 30 games with a set spread.
• So far this season, the Hornets have been installed as underdogs by a 3.5-point margin or more 21 times and are 11-9-1 ATS in those matchups.
• This season, 17 of the Lakers' games have gone over the point total.
• Hornets games this year have gone over the point total 53.3% of the time (16 out of 30 games with a set point total).
• Against the spread, Los Angeles has performed better at home, covering seven times in 15 home games, and five times in 15 road games.
• Charlotte's winning percentage against the spread at home is .286 (4-10-0). Away, it is .562 (9-6-1).

Lakers vs. Hornets Prediction & Pick

The Lakers have been in bad shape lately, but they're likely getting a boost tonight. LeBron James (ankle) is listed as probable for tonight's game, which is crucial if Los Angeles is to win. 'The King' has been terrific lately, averaging 32.4 points, 7.2 rebounds and 7.6 rebounds while shooting 56.5% from the floor in his last five games.

It's also hard to like a Hornets squad that averages the sixth-fewest points (110.6) on the second-worst field-goal percentage (44.3%). Making matters worse is that Charlotte owns an underwhelming minus-7.9 scoring margin on the road this season (fourth-worst). Even against short-handed Los Angeles, the Hornets are too bad to trust.

It won't be perfect, but the Lakers will win tonight.

Final Score Prediction: Lakers: 127 | Hornets: 120

Lakers vs. Hornets Best Bet

If you're looking for impressive defensive play, you won't get it tonight. The Lakers and Hornets have two of the NBA's worst scoring defenses, allowing 117.3 (fifth-worst) and 117.7 points (fourth-worst), respectively.

Both sides have performed worse than that lately, proven by opponents averaging 126 PPG in Charlotte's last five games while Los Angeles has surrendered 130-plus in two straight. Needless to say, I'm expecting a ton of points tonight.

Bet: Over 242 (-110)

Watch FanDuel TV’s new NBA show “Run It Back” with Shams Charania, Michelle Beadle, Chandler Parsons, and Eddie Gonzalez Monday-Wednesday at 10 ET on FanDuel TV, the FanDuel Youtube page, or download the podcast here: fanduel.com/podcasts.

Devon Platana is not a FanDuel employee. In addition to providing DFS gameplay advice, Devon Platana also participates in DFS contests on FanDuel using his personal account, username PepeSilvia0. While the strategies and player selections recommended in his articles are his personal views, he may deploy different strategies and player selections when entering contests with his personal account. The views expressed in their articles are the author's alone and do not necessarily reflect the views of FanDuel.

Game odds refresh periodically and are subject to change.