The Los Angeles Lakers earned their first win of the season in a 95-86 victory over the Utah Jazz on Friday night. Now, LeBron James and company will look to make it two in a row with a against the lowly Charlotte Hornets on Sunday night. Can the Lakers win and cover a big number in this spot?

NBA Point Spread and Betting Analysis

Both teams will enter this contest with a 1-1 mark against the spread (ATS). Charlotte is 4-0 against the spread in its last four road games but they’re coming off a 121-99 home loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves. They’re just 13-27 ATS in their last 40 after losing by 10 or more.

Meanwhile, the Lakers are 6-1 ATS in their last seven home games dating back to last season. Los Angeles is 4-1 ATS in its last five games overall. The Lakers are 6-1 ATS in their last seven overall following an ATS win. They’ve also won and covered three of the last four in this series.

Charlotte Hornets

The Hornets opened their season with a 126-125 win over the Chicago Bulls. However, Charlotte dropped its next decision to a much better opponent in the Minnesota Timberwolves, 121-99 the final. The Hornets haven’t traveled well in recent seasons and flying to the west coast to face a hungry Los Angeles side won’t be an easy task by any means. Second-year guard Devonte’ Graham and rookie first round pick P.J. Washington have both been up to the task early on this season. Washington had 27 points – including seven threes in the opener – but cooled off with just 10 points against Minnesota. The Hornets will continue to rely on them to do the bulk of the heavy lifting at the offensive end of the floor. However, this is a Charlotte team that is in transition right now as you can tell from the inconsistency game-to-game. There are bound to be some major bumps in the road – including in Sunday night’s contest against the Lakers.

Los Angeles Lakers

The Lakers rebounded from a season opening loss to the Clippers with a much better performance in their win over Utah. There is no doubt that the biggest difference was their defensive play as they really took it to the Jazz at their own end of the floor while holding them to 86 points. The Hornets aren’t as complete of a team as Utah, so we should see another strong defensive effort from Los Angeles in this contest. Meanwhile, LeBron James and Anthony Davis have played as advertised early on, combining to average 48.0 points per game through their first two contests. The Lakers need their role players to continue to step up and provide offensive support behind their star duo. So far, Danny Green, Troy Daniels and Avery Bradley have done exactly that. That trio combined for 33 points against the Jazz, which was just over a third of the team’s output.

The Lakers need to be a bit better from distance as they were 13-of-33 in the opener and 8-of-26 against the Jazz. They were at 33.3 percent from three last season, which ranked them 29^th in the NBA. So far, they’re at 35.5 percent, which is only a marginal improvement. Charlotte is allowing teams to hit 36.1 percent of their threes so far – eighth-worst – so that bodes well for the Lakers chances on Sunday.

Who Will Win Hornets vs. Lakers?

Injuries

Charlotte

Terry Rozier (PG)

day-to-day Illness - 11 / 03 / 20

Jalen McDaniels (PF)

Prob Tues Heel - 01 / 03 / 20

Malik Monk (SG)

Out indefinitely Suspension - 26 / 02 / 20

Cody Zeller (PF)

Doub Wed Rest - 26 / 02 / 20

Cody Martin (PF)

Prob Thurs Concussion - 18 / 02 / 20

Terry Rozier (PG)

Prob Thurs Knee - 12 / 02 / 20

Cody Zeller (PF)

Prob Thurs Face - 10 / 02 / 20

Nicolas Batum (SG)

Late Feb Illness - 08 / 02 / 20

Cody Martin (PF)

Prob Wed Concussion - 07 / 02 / 20

P.J. Washington (PF)

Ques Sat Ankle - 30 / 01 / 20

L.A. Lakers

Danny Green (SG)

Prob Sun Finger - 11 / 10 / 20

Danny Green (SG)

Prob Tues Finger - 05 / 10 / 20

Danny Green (SG)

Prob Sun Hip - 03 / 10 / 20

Alex Caruso (SG)

Prob Wed Wrist - 29 / 09 / 20

Danny Green (SG)

Prob Wed Finger - 29 / 09 / 20

Danny Green (SG)

Prob Sat Finger - 26 / 09 / 20

Alex Caruso (SG)

Prob Sat Wrist - 25 / 09 / 20

Alex Caruso (SG)

Prob Thurs Wrist - 23 / 09 / 20

Danny Green (SG)

Prob Thurs Finger - 23 / 09 / 20

Rajon Rondo (PG)

Prob Sun Back - 19 / 09 / 20

Injuries

Charlotte

player (position)	status		ats*current	o/u*	notes
Terry Rozier (PG)	day-to-day	Illness - 11 / 03 / 20	-	-	+ -
Rozier is ailing from an illness. His status for when the league gets back into full swing is clouded.
Jalen McDaniels (PF)	Prob Tues	Heel - 01 / 03 / 20	-	-	+ -
McDaniels left the last game with left heel discomfort, but he is likely to take the court Tuesday against the Spurs.
Malik Monk (SG)	Out indefinitely	Suspension - 26 / 02 / 20	-	-	+ -
Monk has been suspended for violating the league's anti-drug program. It is unclear when he will return to the lineup.
Cody Zeller (PF)	Doub Wed	Rest - 26 / 02 / 20	-	-	+ -
Zeller is not expected to play Wednesday against the Knicks due to a day of rest.
Cody Martin (PF)	Prob Thurs	Concussion - 18 / 02 / 20	-	-	+ -
Martin is projected to be in Thursday's lineup versus the Bulls after clearing the concussion protocol.
Terry Rozier (PG)	Prob Thurs	Knee - 12 / 02 / 20	-	-	+ -
Rozier missed the last game with a sore left knee, but he is expected to be ready for Thursday's matchup against the Bulls.
Cody Zeller (PF)	Prob Thurs	Face - 10 / 02 / 20	-	-	+ -
Zeller was held out the previous game due to facial lacerations but is likely to line up against the Bulls on Thursday.
Nicolas Batum (SG)	Late Feb	Illness - 08 / 02 / 20	-	-	+ -
Batum has sat out the past three games due to an illness, and it is unclear if he will return Feb. 20 against the Bulls.
Cody Martin (PF)	Prob Wed	Concussion - 07 / 02 / 20	-	-	+ -
Martin has missed the past two games after being placed in the concussion protocol due to having surgery to repair a nasal fracture. He is expected to be cleared prior to Wednesday's contest with the Timberwolves.
P.J. Washington (PF)	Ques Sat	Ankle - 30 / 01 / 20	-	-	+ -
Washington left the last game with an ankle sprain, and it is unclear if he will take the court Saturday versus the Spurs.

L.A. Lakers

player (position)	status		ats*current	o/u*	notes
Danny Green (SG)	Prob Sun	Finger - 11 / 10 / 20	0-1	1-0	+ -
Green is dealing with soreness in his left ring finger but is anticipated to face the Heat in Game 6 of the NBA Finals.
Danny Green (SG)	Prob Tues	Finger - 05 / 10 / 20	0-3	1-2	+ -
Green is tending to a volar plate injury in his left ring finger but is projected to suit up against the Heat in Game 4 of the NBA Finals.
Danny Green (SG)	Prob Sun	Hip - 03 / 10 / 20	1-4	2-3	+ -
Green is bothered by tightness in his hip and a volar plate injury in his left ring finger. He is likely to suit up for Game 3 of the NBA Finals versus the Heat.
Alex Caruso (SG)	Prob Wed	Wrist - 29 / 09 / 20	2-4	3-3	+ -
Caruso is expected to play against the Heat in Game 1 of the NBA Finals despite a sore right wrist.
Danny Green (SG)	Prob Wed	Finger - 29 / 09 / 20	2-4	3-3	+ -
Green is projected to take on the Heat in Game 1 of the NBA Finals despite a volar plate injury to his left ring finger.
Danny Green (SG)	Prob Sat	Finger - 26 / 09 / 20	2-4	4-3	+ -
Green is managing a hyperextended left ring finger, but it is projected that he will take the court for Game 5 of the Western Conference finals against the Nuggets.
Alex Caruso (SG)	Prob Sat	Wrist - 25 / 09 / 20	2-5	5-3	+ -
Caruso is battling a sore right wrist, but is likely to be in the lineup for Game 5 of the Western Conference finals against the Nuggets.
Alex Caruso (SG)	Prob Thurs	Wrist - 23 / 09 / 20	2-6	5-4	+ -
Caruso is expected to play against the Nuggets in Game 4 of the Western Conference finals despite right wrist soreness.
Danny Green (SG)	Prob Thurs	Finger - 23 / 09 / 20	2-6	5-4	+ -
Green is battling a volar plate injury in his left finger but is likely to take on the Nuggets in Game 4 of the Western Conference finals.
Rajon Rondo (PG)	Prob Sun	Back - 19 / 09 / 20	4-6	6-5	+ -
Rondo has been dealing with back spasms, but he is expected to be available for Game 2 of the Western Conference final against the Nuggets.