Charlotte Hornets vs. Los Angeles Lakers: Picks, Predictions, Odds and Player Props

With only four road wins all season, it's hard to believe that the Charlotte Hornets can trouble the Los Angeles Lakers in their rescheduled showdown at the Crypto.com Arena.

The game was postponed from January 9th to tonight, and since then, the Hornets and Lakers completed a trade, only for LA to deem the physical of center Mark Williams a failure and void the deal.

With plenty of storylines surrounding this game, we're here to get you set with picks and predictions for the first NBA game after the All-Star break.

Charlotte Hornets vs. Los Angeles Lakers betting picks and predictions

Los Angeles Lakers -12.0 (-110)

A busy end to February just got busier for the Lakers, but they can ease their way back from the break by taking care of a poor Hornets team at the Crypto.com Arena.

The schedule originally had LeBron and co re-emerging from the All-Star break with a game in Portland on Thursday.

But the LA fires earlier this winter prompted Charlotte to abandon their trip to Tinseltown and the game has now been shoehorned in 24 hours before the Lakers head up to Oregon.

Two games in 24 hours and three in four days - LA heads off to Denver over the weekend - means James' participation against Charlotte has to be in doubt as he tries to deal with a nagging foot problem.

He has practiced this week and coach JJ Redick remained hopeful of getting the legend suited up, but this would be the game for him to miss if there are any lingering doubts.

James pulled out of the All-Star game while star signing Luka Doncic was never in it. Doncic is healthy enough, however, to pull on a Lakers' jersey for the third time though his minutes will once again be restricted as he works his way back to full fitness.

So, without James and Doncic on the floor, does that mean Charlotte has a chance? Not a bit of it.

This is the worst shooting team in the league and the 'T' word (tank) is doing the rounds in North Carolina as the 13-39 Hornets run down the clock on a terrible year and hope for their luck to change in the summer.

They are 1-9 through their last 10, which looks even more depressing when considering seven of those games were at their place.

This is the first night of a six-game road trip. While they ran the Lakers close at the Spectrum Center on January 27th, going down 112-107 in a game in which they lost star guard LaMelo Ball to injury in the second quarter, the landscape looks very different just three weeks later.

The 32-20 Lakers should take this and take it easily. They are 5-0 ATS in their last five at home and can make it six here.

Luka Doncic Under 40.5 Points, Assists and Rebounds (-115)

The Lakers are watching Luka Doncic's minutes and coach Redick says they will do so again against Charlotte, which naturally implies all his totals are too high.

He averages 26.5 points, 7.5 assists and 7.5 rebounds and it would be a surprise if he goes over any of those figures.

Combine the three categories and he posting 40.5 points, assists and rebounds, so the bet is to take the Under.

In his first game since his shock move from Dallas he played 24 minutes against Utah and scored 14 points with four assists and five rebounds. Two nights later he played 23 minutes against the Jazz and scored 16 points with four assists and four rebounds.

The All-Star break has given Doncic time off to get stronger. Since he's still on a minutes restriction in a game the Lakers surely win easily, it's hard to envisage him playing more than 30 with so many big games to come.

Charlotte Hornets Under 108.5 Points (-115)

One or two Hornets have points to prove, none more than Mark Williams, who was traded to the Lakers and then sent back with the LA franchise deciding he can't stay healthy.

Williams would love the chance to show LA what they missed out on.

The problem is, he probably isn't fully healthy while the oft-injured LaMelo Ball has struggled to finish games these days.

They are light in depth and failed to score over 90 points in their final two games before the break, so Charlotte should not be backed with confidence to clear 108.5.

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Charlotte Hornets vs. Los Angeles Lakers odds

Charlotte Hornets	+500 ML
Los Angeles Lakers	-700 ML
Spread	LA Lakers -12.0
Total Points	O/U 228.0

Charlotte Hornets vs. Los Angeles Lakers player props

Player Points

LaMelo Ball (CHA Hornets)	O/U 24.5
Nick Smith Jr. (CHA Hornets)	O/U 12.5
Miles Bridges (CHA Hornets)	O/U 20.5
Luka Doncic (LA Lakers)	O/U 26.5
LeBron James (LA Lakers)	O/U 23.5
Austin Reaves (LA Lakers)	O/U 21.5

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This article was written by a partner sports writer via Spotlight Sports Group. All odds displayed on this page were correct at the time of writing and are subject to withdrawal or change at any time.