A four-game winning streak has kept alive Charlotte’s flickering Eastern Conference playoff hopes – and they’ll be in good position to keep that run going Friday night against a Los Angeles Lakers team gearing up for an eventful off-season.
The Hornets are averaging better than 119 points over the course of their winning streak and enter Friday 1 ½ games back of the eighth-place Miami Heat in the race for a postseason spot.
NBA Point Spread and Betting Analysis
Not only have the Hornets reeled off four consecutive victories at just the right time – they’ve covered in all four. And while this might not be of much value from a betting strategy standpoint, it’s interesting to note that Charlotte has gone an incredible 19-6-1 ATS in its previous 26 games played on a Friday. The Lakers, by comparison, have failed to cover six straight Friday games – and more useful to bettors, they’ve gone just 4-10 ATS in their past 14 overall.
Like their recent play, the teams are also on divergent paths from a totals standpoint. The Hornets have converted the over in six of their previous seven games following a straight-up victory, a streak aided significantly by their recent scoring surge. They’re also 5-2 O/U in their past seven road games. The Lakers, on the other hand, have gone below the number in five consecutive games and are 2-9 O/U in their last 11 vs. teams below .500.
Charlotte Hornets
If the Hornets do streak their way into the Eastern Conference playoff bracket, it’ll almost certainly be on the back of Kemba Walker. The sensational point guard has scored 30 or more points three times in the past four games, averaging nearly 24 field goal attempts and 9.5 free throw attempts in that span. If you’re looking at a player prop to consider for this one, we recommend taking Walker on the over for his 26.5-point total.
Los Angeles Lakers
The Lakers are stumbling to the finish line with losses in six of their previous eight games – but you can’t blame LeBron for that, as he’s averaging 29.2 points, 9.8 assists and 8.0 rebounds this month. LeBron is all business despite missing the playoffs, and with this game expected to be a closely-fought matchup, don’t be surprised to see the future star of “Space Jam 2” surpass his team total, which also sits at 26.5.
Line History
Sports Interaction customers are placing their bets on:
| time | fav | line | total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Opening 29 Mar 3:43am | CHA | -2 -110 | O +226 -110 |
| Closing 30 Mar 2:28am | CHA | -2 -110 | O +229.5 -110 |
Injuries
Shelvin Mack (PG)
Michael Kidd-Gilchrist (SF)
Jeremy Lamb (SG)
Marvin Williams (PF)
Jeremy Lamb (SG)
Tony Parker (PG)
Nicolas Batum (SF)
Michael Kidd-Gilchrist (SF)
Tony Parker (PG)
Tony Parker (PG)
Lance Stephenson (SG)
Rajon Rondo (PG)
Tyson Chandler (C)
Reggie Bullock (SG)
Reggie Bullock (SG)
Tyson Chandler (C)
Reggie Bullock (SG)
Mike Muscala (PF)
Josh Hart (SG)
Josh Hart (SG)
Injuries
| player (position) | status | ats*current | o/u* | notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shelvin Mack (PG) | Prob Wed | Personal - 08 / 04 / 19 | 2-0 | 1-1 | + - |
|
Mack missed the last game due to a personal matter but is likely to be available against the Magic on Wednesday. |
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| Michael Kidd-Gilchrist (SF) | Prob Wed | Personal - 07 / 04 / 19 | 3-0 | 1-1-1 | + - |
|
Kidd-Gilchrist has been absent from the lineup during the past two games due to a personal matter but it is expected he will dress for Wednesday's matchup with the Magic. |
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| Jeremy Lamb (SG) | Prob Wed | Ankle - 02 / 04 / 19 | 5-1 | 1-4-1 | + - |
|
Lamb is expected to take the court against the Pelicans on Wednesday despite dealing with right ankle discomfort. |
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| Marvin Williams (PF) | Out Wed | Foot - 02 / 04 / 19 | 5-1 | 1-4-1 | + - |
|
Williams has missed the previous five games due to a right foot strain and will not return Wednesday against the Magic. |
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| Jeremy Lamb (SG) | Prob Fri | Ankle - 26 / 03 / 19 | 7-2 | 4-4-1 | + - |
|
Lamb exited the previous game due to a right ankle sprain but is expected to suit up for Friday's matchup with the Lakers. |
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| Tony Parker (PG) | Prob Wed | Personal - 24 / 03 / 19 | 8-2 | 5-4-1 | + - |
|
Parker has been absent from the lineup due to a personal matter but is likely to be available against the Magic on Wednesday. |
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| Nicolas Batum (SF) | Prob Fri | Illness - 23 / 03 / 19 | 9-2 | 5-5-1 | + - |
|
Batum has missed the past three games due to illness, but it is likely he will return against the Lakers on Friday. |
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| Michael Kidd-Gilchrist (SF) | Ques Fri | Concussion - 20 / 03 / 19 | 9-3 | 6-5-1 | + - |
|
Kidd-Gilchrist has missed the previous three games due to a concussion and it is unknown if he will be cleared in time for Friday's contest against the Lakers. |
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| Tony Parker (PG) | Out Tues | Rest - 18 / 03 / 19 | 9-4 | 6-6-1 | + - |
|
Parker will not suit up against the 76ers on Tuesday as he is to be rested. |
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| Tony Parker (PG) | Ques Fri | Rest - 13 / 03 / 19 | 10-5 | 7-7-1 | + - |
|
Parker may receive a day of rest against the Wizards, leaving his status for Friday's contest clouded. |
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| player (position) | status | ats*current | o/u* | notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lance Stephenson (SG) | Ques Tues | Foot - 09 / 04 / 19 | 1-0 | 1-0 | + - |
|
Stephenson is battling a sore left foot and it is unclear if he will play against the Trail Blazers on Tuesday. |
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| Rajon Rondo (PG) | Out Tues | Rest - 08 / 04 / 19 | 2-0 | 2-0 | + - |
|
Rondo will not participate in Tuesday's game against the Trail Blazers as he is to be rested. |
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| Tyson Chandler (C) | Out Tues | Rest - 08 / 04 / 19 | 2-0 | 2-0 | + - |
|
Chandler will not play against the Trail Blazers on Tuesday due to a day of rest. |
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| Reggie Bullock (SG) | Ques Tues | Neck - 04 / 04 / 19 | 2-2 | 2-2 | + - |
|
Bullock has missed the previous three games with neck stiffness and has an unclear status Tuesday against the Trail Blazers. |
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| Reggie Bullock (SG) | Prob Tues | Foot - 01 / 04 / 19 | 3-2 | 3-2 | + - |
|
Bullock is expected to suit up against the Thunder on Tuesday despite a plantar fasciitis in his right foot. |
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| Tyson Chandler (C) | Ques Tues | Flu - 26 / 03 / 19 | 7-2 | 4-5 | + - |
|
Chandler has been idle due to flu-like symptoms and it is unclear if he will return against the Trail Blazers on Tuesday. |
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| Reggie Bullock (SG) | Prob Sun | Foot - 24 / 03 / 19 | 7-3 | 4-6 | + - |
|
Bullock has been held out of the previous four games with plantar fasciitis in his right foot but is expected to be available for Sunday's game against the Pelicans. |
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| Mike Muscala (PF) | Prob Fri | Ankle - 22 / 03 / 19 | 7-4 | 4-7 | + - |
|
Muscala has missed the past four games due to tibialis posterior tendonitis in his right ankle but is likely to return Friday against the Hornets. |
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| Josh Hart (SG) | out for season | Knee - 21 / 03 / 19 | 7-4 | 4-7 | + - |
|
Hart is recovering from a procedure on his right patellar tendon. He will miss the remainder of the 2018-19 season. |
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| Josh Hart (SG) | Prob Tues | Knee - 18 / 03 / 19 | 7-5 | 5-7 | + - |
|
Hart is battling right knee tendinitis but is projected to face the Bucks on Tuesday. |
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Line History
Sports Interaction customers are placing their bets on:
time fav line total Opening 29 Mar 3:43am CHA -2 -110 O +226 -110 Closing 30 Mar 2:28am CHA -2 -110 O +229.5 -110 -
Injuries
Shelvin Mack (PG)
Prob Wed Personal - 08 / 04 / 19Michael Kidd-Gilchrist (SF)
Prob Wed Personal - 07 / 04 / 19Jeremy Lamb (SG)
Prob Wed Ankle - 02 / 04 / 19Marvin Williams (PF)
Out Wed Foot - 02 / 04 / 19Jeremy Lamb (SG)
Prob Fri Ankle - 26 / 03 / 19Tony Parker (PG)
Prob Wed Personal - 24 / 03 / 19Nicolas Batum (SF)
Prob Fri Illness - 23 / 03 / 19Michael Kidd-Gilchrist (SF)
Ques Fri Concussion - 20 / 03 / 19Tony Parker (PG)
Out Tues Rest - 18 / 03 / 19Tony Parker (PG)
Ques Fri Rest - 13 / 03 / 19Lance Stephenson (SG)
Ques Tues Foot - 09 / 04 / 19Rajon Rondo (PG)
Out Tues Rest - 08 / 04 / 19Tyson Chandler (C)
Out Tues Rest - 08 / 04 / 19Reggie Bullock (SG)
Ques Tues Neck - 04 / 04 / 19Reggie Bullock (SG)
Prob Tues Foot - 01 / 04 / 19Tyson Chandler (C)
Ques Tues Flu - 26 / 03 / 19Reggie Bullock (SG)
Prob Sun Foot - 24 / 03 / 19Mike Muscala (PF)
Prob Fri Ankle - 22 / 03 / 19Josh Hart (SG)
out for season Knee - 21 / 03 / 19Josh Hart (SG)
Prob Tues Knee - 18 / 03 / 19Injuries
player (position) status ats*current o/u* notes Shelvin Mack (PG) Prob Wed Personal - 08 / 04 / 19 2-0 1-1 + - Mack missed the last game due to a personal matter but is likely to be available against the Magic on Wednesday.
Michael Kidd-Gilchrist (SF) Prob Wed Personal - 07 / 04 / 19 3-0 1-1-1 + - Kidd-Gilchrist has been absent from the lineup during the past two games due to a personal matter but it is expected he will dress for Wednesday's matchup with the Magic.
Jeremy Lamb (SG) Prob Wed Ankle - 02 / 04 / 19 5-1 1-4-1 + - Lamb is expected to take the court against the Pelicans on Wednesday despite dealing with right ankle discomfort.
Marvin Williams (PF) Out Wed Foot - 02 / 04 / 19 5-1 1-4-1 + - Williams has missed the previous five games due to a right foot strain and will not return Wednesday against the Magic.
Jeremy Lamb (SG) Prob Fri Ankle - 26 / 03 / 19 7-2 4-4-1 + - Lamb exited the previous game due to a right ankle sprain but is expected to suit up for Friday's matchup with the Lakers.
Tony Parker (PG) Prob Wed Personal - 24 / 03 / 19 8-2 5-4-1 + - Parker has been absent from the lineup due to a personal matter but is likely to be available against the Magic on Wednesday.
Nicolas Batum (SF) Prob Fri Illness - 23 / 03 / 19 9-2 5-5-1 + - Batum has missed the past three games due to illness, but it is likely he will return against the Lakers on Friday.
Michael Kidd-Gilchrist (SF) Ques Fri Concussion - 20 / 03 / 19 9-3 6-5-1 + - Kidd-Gilchrist has missed the previous three games due to a concussion and it is unknown if he will be cleared in time for Friday's contest against the Lakers.
Tony Parker (PG) Out Tues Rest - 18 / 03 / 19 9-4 6-6-1 + - Parker will not suit up against the 76ers on Tuesday as he is to be rested.
Tony Parker (PG) Ques Fri Rest - 13 / 03 / 19 10-5 7-7-1 + - Parker may receive a day of rest against the Wizards, leaving his status for Friday's contest clouded.
player (position) status ats*current o/u* notes Lance Stephenson (SG) Ques Tues Foot - 09 / 04 / 19 1-0 1-0 + - Stephenson is battling a sore left foot and it is unclear if he will play against the Trail Blazers on Tuesday.
Rajon Rondo (PG) Out Tues Rest - 08 / 04 / 19 2-0 2-0 + - Rondo will not participate in Tuesday's game against the Trail Blazers as he is to be rested.
Tyson Chandler (C) Out Tues Rest - 08 / 04 / 19 2-0 2-0 + - Chandler will not play against the Trail Blazers on Tuesday due to a day of rest.
Reggie Bullock (SG) Ques Tues Neck - 04 / 04 / 19 2-2 2-2 + - Bullock has missed the previous three games with neck stiffness and has an unclear status Tuesday against the Trail Blazers.
Reggie Bullock (SG) Prob Tues Foot - 01 / 04 / 19 3-2 3-2 + - Bullock is expected to suit up against the Thunder on Tuesday despite a plantar fasciitis in his right foot.
Tyson Chandler (C) Ques Tues Flu - 26 / 03 / 19 7-2 4-5 + - Chandler has been idle due to flu-like symptoms and it is unclear if he will return against the Trail Blazers on Tuesday.
Reggie Bullock (SG) Prob Sun Foot - 24 / 03 / 19 7-3 4-6 + - Bullock has been held out of the previous four games with plantar fasciitis in his right foot but is expected to be available for Sunday's game against the Pelicans.
Mike Muscala (PF) Prob Fri Ankle - 22 / 03 / 19 7-4 4-7 + - Muscala has missed the past four games due to tibialis posterior tendonitis in his right ankle but is likely to return Friday against the Hornets.
Josh Hart (SG) out for season Knee - 21 / 03 / 19 7-4 4-7 + - Hart is recovering from a procedure on his right patellar tendon. He will miss the remainder of the 2018-19 season.
Josh Hart (SG) Prob Tues Knee - 18 / 03 / 19 7-5 5-7 + - Hart is battling right knee tendinitis but is projected to face the Bucks on Tuesday.