Lakers vs. Hornets NBA expert prediction and odds for Monday, Feb. 5 (Take the points with Charlotte)
The Los Angeles Lakers’ seven-game road trip wraps up Monday night in Charlotte. The Lakers have gone 4-2 away from home, notching big-time road wins over the Boston Celtics (114-105) on Feb. 1 and New York Knicks (113-105) on Feb. 3. Now over .500 and one game back of Dallas for the No. 8 seed in the Western Conference, can the Lakers keep the momentum?
Charlotte upset the Minnesota Timberwolves on the road Jan. 22, but have lost seven consecutive games since and traded Terry Rozier. More moves could be on the way for the Hornets ahead of Thursday’s trade deadline. Can you back them as double-digit underdogs at home Monday night?
Here’s a betting preview for the cross-conference matchup with a best bet.
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Lakers vs. Hornets odds, spread and total
Lakers vs. Hornets how to watch
- Date: Monday, Feb. 5
- Game time: 7 p.m. EST
- Venue: Spectrum Center
- How to watch (TV): Bally Sports
- Lakers record: 26-25
- Hornets record: 10-38
Lakers vs. Hornets injury reports
Los Angeles Lakers
- LeBron James (ankle): questionable
- Anthony Davis (Achilles/hip): questionable
Charlotte Hornets
- Frank Ntilikina (hip): questionable
- Cody Martin (knee): questionable
- LaMelo Ball (ankle): questionable
Lakers vs. Hornets key players to watch
Lakers
Austin Reaves: The second-year shooting guard is averaging 15.6 points and 5.2 assists per game and has come up big on the road trip. Reaves poured in 32 points on 10-of-18 shooting in Thursday’s win over Boston at TD Garden, then turned in 22 points, 7 assists, and 6 rebounds in Saturday’s win over the Knicks. Reaves is averaging 27.3 points in the last games.
Hornets
Miles Bridges: Bridges is averaging 20.7 points and 7.4 rebounds per game and could be on the move soon after 4-plus seasons in Charlotte with several teams showing interest in the Michigan State product. Bridges scored 20-plus points in eight straight games to end January but has shot just 11-of-39 from the field (28.2%) in a pair of February losses.
Lakers vs. Hornets prediction and pick
To lay the points with the Lakers on the road at this number is to buy them at their highest. Los Angeles won as shorthanded 15.5-point underdogs in Boston on Thursday, then snapped the Knicks’ nine-game winning streak at 2-point underdogs on Saturday.
The Lakers got 36 points, 23 rebounds, 10 assists and 5 blocks from the tandem of LeBron James and Anthony Davis in the win at Madison Square Garden, now both are questionable for Monday night.
It’s also a getaway day for the Lakers and a potentially sleepwalking spot as they’ll fly back west after the game before hosting the defending NBA-champion Denver Nuggets on national TV on Thursday.
In terms of buying low, you can’t get any lower from a betting perspective than Charlotte, which hasn't covered a spread over its seven-game losing streak. The Hornets are building for the future, and Brandon Miller, the No. 2 overall pick in last year’s draft, is playing well and coming off a career-high 35 points in Sunday’s loss to the Pacers.
The Lakers are just 2-7 ATS as a road favorite this season. This is the same Lakers club that fell flat earlier in this road trip with losses to Houston and Atlanta. The Lakers are too expensive after beating Boston and New York and they can easily overlook Charlotte with Denver on deck. Take the points.
Game odds update periodically and are subject to change.