The Los Angeles Lakers (24-14) are gearing up to host the Charlotte Hornets (14-26) on Thursday evening at the Crypto.com Arena, looking to complete a season sweep against the struggling Hornets, who have lost six of their last ten games.
The matchup is set to tip off at 7:30 p.m. PT and will be broadcasted on Spectrum Sportsnet. In their latest outing, the Lakers delivered an impressive performance against the Atlanta Hawks, showcasing a level of play that highlights their potential when they are fully engaged. Their decisive victory raised questions about their ability to maintain this level of intensity consistently.
If the Lakers can harness that momentum, they can improve their standing in the competitive Western Conference. Meanwhile, the Hornets are facing challenges themselves, coming off a hard-fought game against the Los Angeles Clippers. Despite keeping pace for much of the game, their defense faltered, leaving them vulnerable.
The Hornets’ offense, primarily orchestrated by LaMelo Ball, relies heavily on his performance. If the Lakers can effectively contain him from the outset, Charlotte lacks a second superstar to counterbalance. Although players like Miles Bridges, Kon Knueppel, and Brandon Miller can provide scoring bursts, the team remains below average when they do not perform at their peak.
Moreover, Charlotte’s offensive strategy has proved to be effective from beyond the arc, as they rank among the league leaders in both attempts and success rate for three-pointers. With the Hornets attempting an average of 41.2 three-point shots per game and converting 37% of them, the Lakers will need to be vigilant on perimeter defense.
Conversely, the Lakers enjoy a significant advantage with star players like Luka Dončić and LeBron James, who can dominate the game given Charlotte’s defensive shortcomings.
In terms of injury updates, the Lakers may have Jaxson Hayes as a potential absence due to left hamstring soreness, while Austin Reaves and Adou Thiero are ruled out. For the Hornets, Moussa Diabate and Collin Sexton are questionable, and Mason Plumlee will not play due to a right groin surgery.
As the Lakers aim to secure their second consecutive victory, fans are hopeful that the team can turn their early season performance around and solidify a position in the playoff hunt.