Charlotte Hornets vs. Los Angeles Lakers Picks and Prediction for Thursday, January 15th, 2026
The Charlotte Hornets (14-26, 23-17 ATS, 18-22 O/U) take on the Los Angeles Lakers (24-14, 21-17 ATS, 22-16 O/U) in an inter-conference meeting on Thursday evening, and we have you covered with the prediction. The Hornets dropped a meeting against the Clippers on Tuesday. The Lakers posted a home win against the Hawks in their previous action. The Lakers recorded a road win against the Hornets in November.
Can the Lakers take this one by more than five points on Thursday evening? Check out the Hawks vs. Lakers prediction. Do you need a boost in your handicapping? Try our NBA Picks!
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Hornets Continue Tough Road Trek
The Charlotte Hornets are in the early stages of a daunting road trek spanning five games. Charlotte has been competitive in the past month, with many defeats decided by only a few points. They are 3-3 in their past six games. This includes a big road win against the Thunder 10 days ago. They lost by one point against the Raptors last week.
Next, the Hornets lost by just two points against the Pacers and opened this road trek with a 150-95 road win against the Jazz. Charlotte was hit with a 117-109 road defeat by the Clippers on Tuesday in a meeting that had the Hornets marked as five-point dogs. They sank 49% of their shots while L.A. posted a 55% mark. The Hornets stand 12th in the conference. They have covered the spread in three of their past six games.
Lamelo Ball has been hit or miss in the past week or so. The star point guard has reached 20 points in just two games this month. Ball scored 25 points on Tuesday and has delivered an average of 20.1 PPG and 5.2 RPG. Miles Bridges has been outstanding. The veteran forward has sunk 50% of his shots in two of his past three games and is averaging 19.5 PPG and 6.5 RPG.
Brandon Miller scored 13 points in the defeat on Tuesday. The 23-year-old forward has netted an average of 19.1 PPG on the season. Kon Knueppel has scored 18 or fewer in five of his last six efforts. The 20-year-old guard has posted an average of 19.1 PPG. Collin Sexton managed 15 points on Tuesday. The 27-year-old guard has issued 15.2 PPG.
The Hornets stand at 3-2 in their past five road games, including a defeat against the Bucks and a win against the Bulls. They covered in all but one game in that span. Charlotte is averaging 116.2 points on the season, rating them 16th. The Hornets are conceding an average of 116.7 points, placing them 18th in the NBA.
Lakers Answer in Win vs. Hawks
The Los Angeles Lakers are seeking their 25th win of the season. L.A.begins a quick homestand in this one. They have been a bit inconsistent, going 5-5 in their past ten games, but are enjoying a strong season. The Lakers beat the Pelicans and lost meetings against the Spurs and Bucks earlier this month.
This past week, Los Angeles dropped a road meeting against the Kings to conclude the tough road trek. Next, the Lakers managed a 141-116 home win against the Hawks in a bout that had the Lakers as 1.5-point favorites. They were sharp in the offensive end, connecting on 58% of their shots while the defense kept Atlanta to a 45% effort. The Lakers stand atop the Pacific division. They have covered in two of their past five games.
Luka Doncic continues to dominate in most games. The 26-year-old star has sunk 30 or more points in all but two games this month. Doncic dropped 27 points on Tuesday and is sporting an average of 33.5 PPG on the season. LeBron James has been a huge threat this month. The veteran forward has scored at least 25 points in five of this last six games. James has recorded an average of 22.4 PPG and 6.9 APG.
Rui Hachimura was dealing with a leg injury and is back in action. He only missed about two weeks. The 27-year-old forward is having a steady year, amassing an average of 12.5 PPG on 51.9% shooting. Jake LaRavia scored 17 points in the win on Tuesday. The young forward is averaging 9.8 PPG. Jaxson Hayes comes off the bench. The center is averaging 6.3 PPG. The Lakers continue to play without Austin Reaves, which creates a big scoring void.
Los Angeles is only 2-3 in its past five games at home. This includes a defeat against the Pistons and the Bucks. They covered in two games in that span. Los Angeles is scoring an average of 116.5 points on the year, ranking them 15th. The Lakers are squandering an average of 116.5 points, placing them at 17th in the NBA. 
Hornets vs. Lakers Pick
| # | Handicapper | Profit |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |  Ben Burns | +1,203.00 |
| 2 |  Joseph D'Amico | +791.00 |
| 3 |  Bryan Power | +507.00 |
| 4 |  MIT Simulator | +449.00 |
| 5 |  Joe Duffy | +374.00 |
Spread Pick for Hornets vs. Lakers
- Charlotte Hornets +5 (5 units)
The Charlotte Hornets have not been easy to beat in the past few weeks. They stand at 3-3 in their past six games and have covered the spread in seven of their past ten games. The Los Angeles Lakers continue to be an inconsistent squad. They had dropped three bouts in a row before a home win on Tuesday.
Furthermore, Los Angeles has been inconsistent in the offensive end, scoring 112 or fewer points in four of their past five games. The Hornets' defense has been their top strength this month. Charlotte is efficient. They are shooting an outstanding 37% from beyond the arc, ranking them sixth in the NBA. This is key in this matchup against a shaky Lakers defense. They are pegged 25th in three-point defense.
Over/Under Pick for Hornets vs. Lakers
- Over 232.5 (5 units)
I expect a shootout in this one. Charlotte does not play at a quick pace, but is capable of big numbers due to their threes. They attempt an average of 40 threes per game. Charlotte is posting big numbers on the road, averaging 123 points in their past five road games.
In addition, the Hornets' defense is a weakness. They are pegged 29th against the three. Los Angeles has been a big threat at home, averaging 119 points in its past five home games. They scored 121 points in the first meeting on the road against the Hornets, in which the over hit.
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