Free NBA Picks Today: Charlotte Hornets vs Los Angeles Lakers 1/2/23

Free NBA Picks Today: Charlotte Hornets vs Los Angeles Lakers 1/2/23
Mon 2nd January 2023

The Charlotte Hornets (10-27, 5-12 Home) play host to the Los Angeles Lakers (15-21, 7-13 Away) Monday in what figures to be a fast-paced game. Los Angeles defeated the Atlanta Hawks 130-121 at State Farm Arena on Friday. LeBron James was the standout player with 47 points, 10 rebounds, and nine assists.

The Lakers are the 13th seed in the Western Conference. Charlotte dropped their last game on Saturday at Spectrum Center, falling to the Brooklyn Nets 123-106.

LaMelo Ball recorded 23 points to top the scoresheet in the losing effort. With 22 points, 10 rebounds, and three assists, Mason Plumlee also impressed. The Hornets are 14th in the Eastern Conference.

The teams are meeting for the final time this season. After winning the only previous season meeting against Los Angeles 134-130 at Crypto.com Arena in December 2022, Charlotte will be looking for a season sweep. James led the game in scoring with 34 points and eight assists in defeat. PJ Washington had 24 points for the Hornets.

The Lakers have been led this season by James, who is averaging 28.5 points per game, eighth-highest in the NBA. James also has grabbed 8.1 rebounds per game. Meanwhile, Russell Westbrook is dishing 7.8 assists.Kelly Oubre Jr. (20.2 ppg) and Terry Rozier (19.8) have been the primary providers of the Hornets’ offense.

Rozier also has recorded 5.4 assists per game. Plumlee has pulled down 9.2 rebounds per game. Expect plenty of transition action in this matchup that showcases two of the NBA’s most fast-paced teams, as the Lakers and the Hornets rank second and third, respectively, in possessions per game.

The teams have split their last 10 games at Spectrum Center (5-5).Los Angeles is 4-6 in the last 10 games with an average margin of -2.3 (118.9-121.2). Charlotte has gone 3-7 over the last 10, allowing 123.0 points per game on average while scoring only 116.4 (-6.6 margin).

LAKERS HOT/COLD

(Last Five | Season Average | Differential)
Points + Rebounds + Assists:
Thomas Bryant: 24.6 | 18.4 | +6.2
Lonnie Walker IV: 11.0 | 18.4 | -7.4
Points per game:
Lonnie Walker IV: 8.5 | 14.7 | -6.2
Rebounds per game:
Thomas Bryant: 10.2 | 6.1 | +4.1

HORNETS HOT/COLD

(Last Five | Season Average | Differential)
Points + Rebounds + Assists:
Nick Richards: 5.5 | 15.6 | -10.1
Points per game:
PJ Washington: 19.4 | 15.0 | +4.4
Kelly Oubre Jr.: 13.3 | 20.2 | -6.8
Rebounds per game:
LaMelo Ball: 8.4 | 5.5 | +2.9
Nick Richards: 2.0 | 6.2 | -4.2

SportsTips’ NBA Pick:

LA Lakers (+100)

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*Odds correct at time of publication, courtesy of BetMGM.

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