The Charlotte Hornets (14-25) and Los Angeles Clippers (15-23) will face off in the NBA tonight. Tipoff is set for 10:30 p.m. ET from the Intuit Dome in Inglewood, California. The game will broadcast live on FDSSE.
The Clippers are 4.5-point favorites over the Hornets on the spread (Clippers -4.5), with the over/under set at 223.5 total points. The Clippers are -185 favorites to win outright on the moneyline, while the Hornets are +160 to pull off the upset.
Let's get into my Hornets vs. Clippers predictions and NBA picks for Monday, January 12.
Hornets vs Clippers Prediction
- Hornets vs Clippers pick: Clippers -4.5 (-110)
My Hornets vs Clippers best bet is on Los Angeles to cover the spread, with the best price currently available at DraftKings. Make sure to find the best odds by checking our live NBA odds page.
Hornets vs Clippers Odds
| Hornets Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
+4.5 -105 | 223.5 -112o / -108u | +160 |
| Clippers Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
-4.5 -115 | 223.5 -112o / -108u | -185 |
Hornets vs Clippers NBA Preview, Picks
On Saturday night, Charlotte delivered one of its most dominant wins in recent memory with a 150-95 thumping of the Jazz. It was the second-largest victory in franchise history and the biggest road win the Hornets have ever recorded.
Charlotte built a 47-point lead in the first half and was never ahead by fewer than 30 points the rest of the way. It was a remarkable way to kick off a road trip, as nine players scored in double figures and the team knocked down 24 3-pointers.
LaMelo Ball accounted for five of those triples and added five rebounds and five assists in just 23 minutes.
While Saturday's game was a blowout, Ball's minutes have been a point of contention in Charlotte lately.
He even came off the bench against Indiana, although his stat line hardly reflected it: 33 points, eight assists and seven 3-pointers in 27 minutes. Tonight, the Chino Hills product returns to Southern California to face the Clippers.
Utah owns the league's worst defense, and Saturday's performance won't change that reality. Charlotte figures to face a much tougher offensive test tonight.
The Clippers rank 26th in defensive rating on the season, but they've improved to 11th over their past 10 games, a stretch that's helped fuel eight wins in their last 10.
Los Angeles returns home after a successful East Coast trip, winning two of three against the Knicks, Nets and Pistons. Saturday's victory over Detroit was a grind-it-out affair, as the Clippers rallied from a 14-point deficit in the fourth quarter.
Kawhi Leonard continued his strong play with 26 points and eight rebounds, while John Collins chipped in 25 points and seven boards.
James Harden struggled shooting the ball, going 4-for-20 from the field and finishing with 19 points, seven assists and several turnovers.
Still, he's likely eager for another crack at the Hornets.
In the first meeting, Harden erupted for a franchise-record 55 points — a mark Leonard has since matched — while adding seven assists on 17-for-26 shooting and 10-for-16 from beyond the arc.
Hornets vs Clippers Prediction, Betting Analysis
This matchup features the league's two best teams in net rating over the last 10 games.
The Clippers have won eight of their last 10, while the Hornets have split their last 10 games. Los Angeles has also taken each of the last 10 meetings in this series, winning nine of those by eight points or more. Tonight, a five-point victory would be enough to secure a cover.
James Harden exploded in the last matchup, and he has scored 29 points in three of the last five meetings. He's also recorded seven assists in each of those games, including two with double-digit dimes.
As a result, Harden is averaging 35.4 points and assists across the last five meetings and has cleared 30+ PA in seven of his last 10 games overall.
Charlotte allows the fewest points to small forwards, but that isn't expected to deter Kawhi Leonard. He scored 40 points in difficult matchups against the Rockets and Pistons, and he's reached 25 points in eight of his last 10 games.
LaMelo Ball has made just three total 3-pointers across his last two games against the Clippers.
Still, Los Angeles ranks 19th in 3-pointers allowed, and Ball remains a high-volume shooter. If he takes eight triples tonight — he's averaging 9.2 this month — his chances of hitting at least three look strong. He's done so in eight of his last 10 games.
Kon Knueppel is another Hornet who could benefit from the Clippers' perimeter defense.
In the first meeting, he scored 26 points and knocked down six 3s. Ball, Brandon Miller and Miles Bridges (probable) all played in that game and are expected to go tonight.
Despite the number of mouths to feed, Knueppel has scored at least 15 points in eight of his last 10 games.
Pick: Clippers -4.5 (-110)
Hornets vs Clippers Parlay Picks
- James Harden 30+ Points and Assists
- Kawhi Leonard 25+ Points
- Kon Knueppel 15+ Points
- LaMelo Ball 3+ Three Pointers Made
Parlay Odds: +330 via DraftKings
Clippers vs Hornets Betting Trends
