The NBA comes out of the All-Star break with a solo matchup on the schedule, and boy it’s a doozy.
Well, not really. The Association is giving LeBron James, Luka Doncic, and the Los Angeles Lakers a layup as they host the Charlotte Hornets as big double-digit favorites. But the big news is Doncic is not expected to have a minutes restriction moving forward.
How will that affect tonight’s NBA picks? My Hornets vs. Lakers predictions break it all down for the standalone game set to tip off at 10:00 p.m. ET from Crypto.com Arena on Wednesday, February 19.
Hornets vs Lakers prediction
My best bet
Luka Doncic double-double (+140 at bet365)
My analysis
Lost in the insanity of getting Luka Doncic, the Los Angeles Lakers were actually playing some good basketball heading into the All-Star break. The Lakers have won 10 of their last 12 games and now sit in fifth place in the Western Conference. And now they have Luka Doncic.
Sorry, I just still can’t believe it.
Now, Doncic not only looked a little rusty after being out since Christmas, but also like he was forcing things a bit in his first two appearances as a member of the Lakers. Luka averaged 15 points while shooting a putrid 26.7% from 3-point range, with 4.5 rebounds, 4.0 assists, and 3.0 turnovers in just over 23 minutes per game.
However, here’s hoping the break helped Luka get a little more acclimatized with his new team. Lakers head coach JJ Reddick announced Tuesday that Doncic is not expected to have a minutes limit moving forward.
I believe we'll get something close to a 100% version of Luka heading into tonight’s matchup against the Charlotte Hornets.
The Hornets also got some good new on the injury front as LaMelo Ball is probable to play in this matchup. So too is Laker-for-a-day Mark Williams. Still, the Hornets are big underdogs here, ranking 25th in the NBA in net rating, and are 4-19 on the road this season.
So, I think we have a great shot to see the guy who averaged 28.1 points, 8.3 rebounds, and 7.8 assists for the Dallas Mavericks show up for the Lakers tonight. Doncic also recorded 10 double-doubles in 22 games with the Mavs this season. The price for him to record one tonight is +140, and I’m just not sure how much longer we’ll get this price with Doncic moving forward.
That’s also because the Lakers need someone to rebound after Anthony Davis and his 12 rebounds per game were shipped off to Dallas and the Williams trade fell through. I’m backing Doncic to get his first double-double as a member of the Lakers in what shouldn’t be too difficult of a matchup.
Hornets vs Lakers same-game parlay
Luka Doncic double-double
Mark Williams Over 9.5 rebounds
Over 227.5
It's the Mark Williams Revenge Game! Well, kind of. The reason the Lakers wanted Williams is because he would have been a suitable replacement for Anthony Davis with his rebounding and rim protection, averaging 9.6 rebounds and 1.2 blocks per game this season.
Outside of Davis, the Lakers have not been strong on the boards. In fact, they come out of the break ranked 23rd in rebounding rate, and that was with AD. Now, Luka will pick up some of that slack, but he’s still a guard.
Williams should have his way on the glass, so let’s add Over 9.5 rebounds for the Buzz City big man.
Let’s close this same-game parlay out with the Over 227.5. The Lakers have been an Over ATM recently, going above the number in seven of their last eight games, and adding Luka is an Over move. Sure, the offense goes up, but the defense goes down.
Meanwhile, the Hornets' offense hasn’t been good this season, but having Ball back helps, and they should have some room to work against a Lakers team that ranked 17th in defensive rating before acquiring Luka.
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Hornets vs Lakers odds
Hornets vs Lakers live odds
Hornets vs Lakers opening odds
- Spread: Charlotte +13 | Los Angeles -13
- Moneyline: Charlotte +800 | Los Angeles -550
- Over/Under: Over 223.5 | Under 223.5
Odds courtesy of bet365
Hornets vs Lakers spread and Over/Under analysis
- These NBA odds are unique for the fact that they've been up for a couple of days due to the All-Star break and have seen more action than a normal NBA game.
- The Lakers opened this matchup as 13-point home favorites and have been bet as high as 13.5 before action on the Hornets brought the spread down to 12 as of Wednesday morning. I'll be staying away from laying big chalk with the Lakers until we get some more data with Doncic in the lineup.
- The total hit the board at 223.5 and has slowly risen over the last several days to sit at 227.5.
- The Lakers look like they should continue to be a solid Over bet in this coming weeks trading defense for Doncic's offensive output.
Hornets vs Lakers trend
The Over is 7-1 in the Lakers' last eight games overall and 16-8 in their last 24. Find more NBA betting trends for Hornets vs. Lakers.
How to watch Hornets vs Lakers
| Location | Crypto.com Arena, Los Angeles, CA |
| Date | Wednesday, 2-19-2025 |
| Tip-off | 10:00 p.m. ET |
| TV | FanDuel Sports Network-Southeast, Spectrum SportsNet |
Hornets vs Lakers latest injuries
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