NBA Best Bets for February 19: Will the Lakers Blow Out the Hornets?

Charlotte Hornets

The Charlotte Hornets are a young, rebuilding team that has struggled this season. The Hornets are currently 13-39 and are 14th in the Eastern Conference. The Hornets went into the All-Star break as losers of three games in a row and lost six of the seven games they played in February. The Hornets hope that the extended break will help get them back on track.

More Misses Than Hits

The Hornets struggle to score and they have struggled to be efficient on offense. They are only averaging 106.3 points per game this season and are a league-worst 43% from the field. They were expected to be a high-powered offense this season but injuries to key pieces of the team have prevented them from really hitting their stride.

A big loss for the team this year was shooting guard Brandon Miller, who is out for the season. The Hornets are also missing Tre Mann for the rest of the season. The engine of their offense, LaMelo Ball, is a game-time decision with a hurt ankle. Already depleted due to injuries, they are hoping that LaMelo will be able to suit up tonight.

During the season, the Hornets are 26-24 against the spread and 11-11 against the spread on the road. They are also 26-17 against the spread as an underdog and 6-3 when catching between 12 and 15 points.

Los Angeles Lakers

The Lakers pulled off the heist of the century when they acquired MVP candidate Luka Doncic from the mismanaged Dallas Mavericks. The Lakers had to be incredulous that such a gift could fall in their lap but here we are. The team will be excited to have Luka and LeBron James on the court again tonight although LeBron is questionable with the ankle injury that kept him out of the All-Star Game.

Luka and LeBron Are Coming

With Luka and LeBron in the lineup, the Lakers have two of the best passers in the NBA and their ball movement is incredible. The Hornets are not known for their defense and they will be put to the test against two of the most creative players that the league has ever seen.

The Lakers are 6th in the league in field goal percentage at 48.4% on the season, and I will not be surprised to see that number go up with Luka Doncic on the team. His ability to draw attention from the defense and make the right pass should provide plenty of open looks for his teammates, and the Lakers have to be excited about their future.

The Lakers are 28-24 against the spread this year and are 16-9 against the spread at home. The Lakers have laid between 12 and 15 points twice and have covered in both games.

Key Matchup

How will the Hornets stop the combination of LeBron James and Luka Doncic? Miles Bridges is a solid perimeter defender, but one of the two Lakers stars will have an advantage matchup at all times. Bridges can only guard one man and the Lakers will feature whoever Bridges does not pick up. Also, during the times when Bridges is on the bench, the Hornets will be extra vulnerable because the Lakers do like to stagger their star players.

The Hornets will need to play excellent team defense because they do not have the individual defenders to slow down the Lakers stars. If the Hornets can play solid and connected in their defensive assignments, they have a good chance to get another road cover. If the Lakers are able to break down the lack of individual defenders, they will cruise to an easy victory and once again cover by a large margin.

The Pick

As depleted as the Hornets are, they have a good chance to keep this one close.

With these bigger spreads, oftentimes they will be decided by the players who are not the stars. Even if the Lakers do build up a huge lead, their star players will be resting when the point spread is decided. The Hornets should give their full effort with their best players for the full 48 minutes and that could be the difference.

Take the Charlotte Hornets +13.5.

NBA Pick: Charlotte Hornets +13.5 (-105) at BetOnline

Charlotte Hornets +13.5 (-105)

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