Los Angeles Lakers vs Charlotte Hornets 1/28/22: Starting Lineups, Matchup Preview, Betting Odds, Live Stream

Los Angeles Lakers vs. Charlotte Hornets Matchup Preview (1/28/22)

On the second night of a back-to-back and their third game in four days, the Los Angeles Lakers will continue their east-coast road trip in Charlotte by taking on the Hornets in an inevitably fast-paced game. Charlotte and Los Angeles rank second and third in PACE, respectively, so expect a lot of action. The Lakers may be without LeBron for a second consecutive night if they decide to play it safe with his knee soreness; however, I believe he may give it a go on Friday. Charlotte is fresh off a pummeling of the Indiana Pacers, who allowed the Hornets to score nearly 160 points in regulation. The Hornets are one of the biggest surprises this year, and games like this are ones where they have been able to capitalize on their offensive firepower. Below, I cover my favorite to cover the spread in this bout, so check it out!

Los Angeles Lakers vs. Charlotte Hornets Betting Odds

Even with a massive performance from Anthony Davis, the Lakers still got rolled on the road by 18 points. When Los Angeles does not have LeBron, it is beyond hopeless, especially in games against opponents that can score with such ease. Right now, the spread has Charlotte as a seven-point favorite. That hardly feels appropriate considering the fact that LeBron may not play. If he does play, this could still be a double-digit Charlotte win. Without him, it should not even be a game.

TV Schedule

Date: 1/28/22
Time: 7:30 PM ET
Arena: Spectrum Center – Charlotte, NC
Channel: NBA League Pass

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Los Angeles Lakers Starting Lineup

PG: Russell Westbrook
SG: Avery Bradley
SF: Malik Monk
PF: Stanley Johnson
C: Anthony Davis

Los Angeles Lakers Analysis

LeBron was ruled out for last night’s game against the Philadelphia 76ers due to knee soreness, which could be a cause for concern if you are considering to bet the Lakers against the spread on the road against a high-powered Charlotte offense. With all that being said, I believe he got a night off because they have three games in four days; it does not make sense to risk an injury or tire out LeBron’s legs right now, especially with the offensive output he is forced to generate on a nightly basis. It would likely be different if Anthony Davis had stayed healthy and played at an optimal level on offense; however, this is what the Lakers have to do. Now, on to the rest of the team. The Lakers’ win against Brooklyn on the road was convincing and solid, but they quickly got pummeled by the Sixers just two nights later. The Hornets are far more lethal on the offensive end, and there are not many matchups worse for a team that can’t hold strong offensive teams like Charlotte at bay. Unless the return of Anthony Davis begins to spark this team on the defensive end, it is hardly likely that the Lakers will steal one on the road against a Charlotte team that is the fourth-best team at home in the Eastern Conference.

Charlotte Hornets Starting Lineup

PG: LaMelo Ball
SG: Terry Rozier
SF: Kelly Oubre Jr.
PF: Miles Bridges
C: Mason Plumlee

Charlotte Hornets Analysis

In the last game that the Charlotte Hornets played in, they dropped 158 points on the Indiana Pacers while shooting over 58% from the floor and 53% from three. Scoring that many points on an NBA team without any overtime being played is astonishing, yet it looked so effortless for the Hornets. Sure, a portion of that could be because the Pacers are an absolute trainwreck of an organization and team; however, even teams that tank or are entirely uninspired don’t tend to give up nearly 160 points in just 48 minutes. The Hornets have won four of their past six, and while the defense is often a concern, it shouldn’t be a big deal when considering that the Lakers are even worse on that end with a much less effective offense.

Los Angeles Lakers vs. Charlotte Hornets Daily Fantasy Picks

Carmelo Anthony was out of the NBA just a few years ago. How crazy is that? Anthony plays a significant role for the Lakers as a scorer off the bench. While the days of Anthony posting 30-point games virtually every night are long gone, he still has vintage moments, like his 23-point game last week against the Orlando Magic. Anthony has averaged just over 13 points and four rebounds on the season while playing about 27 minutes per game. Melo looked unbelievable at the beginning of the season and shot at such an incredible clip. Still, he is shooting around 40% from behind the arc, which is impressive for a player who put so much emphasis into the mid-range throughout his career. If you are looking for a bench player in DFS, you should consider Melo. His salary is relatively cheap, and if he has a big night, both on the glass and from the field, then you could find yourself in the money by the night’s end.

LaMelo Ball has been sensational this season in just his second season in the NBA! Ball has made it clear that he is the franchise’s cornerstone to build around, and so far, Charlotte has done a terrific job of doing it. He is surrounded by a perfect proportion of guys who can make shots, guys who can create shots, and guys who expect very little involvement on offense. This season, Ball is averaging just shy of 20 points, eight rebounds, and eight assists in the most high-powered offense in the NBA. There is no doubt that Charlotte needs to improve significantly on the defensive end, but it has moved in the right direction. It can’t all happen at once. In terms of DFS, this is the perfect matchup conceivable for Ball. The Lakers are atrocious defensively, and Ball should be able to get open shots, create for others, and push the pace exactly how he wants.