Lakers Face Hornets: Aiming to Sustain Winning Momentum

The Los Angeles Lakers are set to face the Charlotte Hornets for the first time this season at Crypto.com Arena. The game marks the second matchup between these two teams this year, following a 10-point victory by the Lakers on November 10 in Charlotte.

Lakers’ Recent Performance

After a challenging stretch, the Lakers aim to build on their recent success. They achieved a 141-116 victory over the Atlanta Hawks, breaking a three-game losing streak. This game showcased their improved long-range shooting, with a season-high of 19 three-pointers and 56% accuracy from beyond the arc.

• Season high: 19 made 3-pointers
• 3-point shooting percentage: Jumped from last place to 23rd in the NBA at 34%

LeBron James had an impressive outing, finishing with 31 points, nine rebounds, and ten assists, narrowly missing a triple-double. His performance marked his first back-to-back games of the season. Rui Hachimura also returned, contributing seven points in limited minutes.

Hornets Under Pressure

The Hornets have struggled lately, losing three of their last four games. In their most recent matchup, they fell 117-109 to the Los Angeles Clippers, despite LaMelo Ball scoring 25 points. Ball has been a key player for the Hornets, averaging 20.1 points and 7.0 assists per game.

• Hornets’ record: 14-26 (12th in Eastern Conference)
• Away record: 7-14

The team relies on four starters who average double digits in scoring, including Miles Bridges, Brandon Miller, and Kon Knueppel. However, depth remains an issue, with Colin Sexton serving as the only notable contributor off the bench at 15 points per game.

Matchup Insights

Statistically, the Hornets possess the 11th-rated offense in the NBA, but their defense is ranked 21st. Surprisingly, despite LaMelo Ball’s playmaking abilities, the Hornets rank 27th in fast break points, averaging just 13.1 points.

Injury Updates

As the teams prepare for this crucial game, several players are dealing with injuries:

• Jaxson Hayes (Lakers) – Questionable (left hamstring soreness)
• Austin Reaves (Lakers) – Out (left calf strain)
• Adou Thiero (Lakers) – Out (right MCL sprain)
• Colin Sexton (Hornets) – Questionable (hamstring)
• Moussa Diabate (Hornets) – Questionable (right hip soreness)
• Mason Plumlee (Hornets) – Out (right groin surgery)

Uniforms and Upcoming Games

For this matchup, the Lakers will wear their iconic gold uniforms, while the Hornets will don their teal Icon Edition outfits. Following this game, the Lakers will face the Portland Trail Blazers and the Toronto Raptors in a back-to-back series, concluding a demanding stretch of five games in seven days.