LA Clippers vs Charlotte Hornets Prediction & Betting Tips - NBA

Prediction published on 26/12/2023, 07:10  by Devesh Jaganath in NBA Predictions

The Los Angeles Clippers will face off against the Charlotte Hornets at the Crypto.com Arena in the NBA on Tuesday. The hosts are 17-12 and sixth in the Western Conference, while the visitors are 7-20 and 13th in the Eastern Conference. 

The Los Angeles Clippers seem to have hit a rough patch after their impressive nine-game win streak, and they're looking to bounce back from a two-game skid. Their last match ended in a significant 145-108 loss to the Celtics on Saturday. Paul George led the team in scoring with 21 points, shooting nine of 17, while Ivica Zubac contributed 16 points. The absence of Kawhi Leonard has been notable, and the Clippers haven't quite resembled the team that enjoyed a nine-match winning streak at the start of December. Offensively, the Clippers are averaging 116.7 points per game, just 4.2 points less than what the Hornets typically allow (120.9). Defensively, the Clippers rank 12th in the NBA in efficiency, giving up an average of 114.4 points per 100 possessions. In terms of head-to-head matchups, the Clippers have a strong record against their upcoming opponent, having won each of the last 10 meetings dating back to 2018. However, they could be without several key players in this one, including Mason Plumlee, Moussa Diabate, and Joshua Primo.

Meanwhile, the Charlotte Hornets are going through a challenging period, having lost 11 of their last 13 games and hoping to break a seven-game slide. In their recent 102-95 loss to the Nuggets, Miles Bridges led the team with 22 points, and PJ Washington added 20 points. The Hornets have been significantly impacted by injuries, with LaMelo Ball missing his 12th consecutive game due to a sprained right ankle. Additionally, Brandon Miller left the Saturday game in the first quarter with a sprained ankle, and Mark Williams has been out since December 11 with a back injury. Offensively, the Hornets currently rank 26th in the NBA in scoring, averaging 110.4 points per game. In contrast, the Los Angeles team they're facing is 12th in points allowed per game, giving up 112.7 points on average. Defensively, the Hornets are allowing 120.9 points per game with a defensive rating of 121.8, ranking them 29th in the league.