Los Angeles will look to improve on its 43-19 record on Friday when they host Charlotte in NBA odds action at STAPLES Center.

This season the Lakers are 43-19 overall and 30-32 ATS against the number, while the Bobcats are 26-34 and 29-29-2 ATS. As for the totals, Los Angeles is 25-37 on the OU, and Charlotte is 29-31.



View Charlotte vs LA Lakers Odds and Stats.

Betting Line:
Bettors looking to back the visiting Bobcats before tip-off in this one will find them as 12.5-point underdogs, while the total sits at 191.5.

Power Rankings / Prediction:
This game pits the Lakers, currently No. 1 in the Odds Shark NBA Power Rankings, against the Bobcats, who rate No. 24 in the most recent survey. Meanwhile, math and computer handicapping models run on this game predict a 104-94 victory for the Lakers.



How They Match Up:
The game also pits Los Angeles's No. 8-ranked offense, averaging 102 PPG, against a Bobcats defense that ranks No. 13 at 97.1 PPG. The Lakers field goal percentage has averaged 46.8% so far, more than the Bobcats shooters have achieved on the year, 44.7% per game.

Defensively, the Bobcats feature the league's No. 13-rated defense on the road, allowing 98.6 points per game. Los Angeles, meanwhile, comes in at No. 8 in the league in scoring at home.

Charlotte lost its last outing, a 120-80 result against the Nuggets on March 2. The Bobcats failed to cover in that game as a 6.5-point underdog, while the 200 combined points took the game UNDER the total. Charlotte was run off the court by the Nuggets on Wednesday as Denver blasted them 120-80 at Pepsi Center.

In their last action, Los Angeles was a 90-79 Sportsbook on the road against the Timberwolves. They covered the 9–point spread as favorites, while the combined score (169) was profitable news for UNDER bettors. Los Angeles got 24 points from Kobe Bryant en route to a 90-79 victory over Minnesota on Tuesday at Target Center.


Charlotte Bobcats Trends:
When playing on Friday are 4-6
Before playing Portland are 5-5
After playing Denver are 5-5
After a loss are 6-4

Los Angeles Lakers Trends:
When playing on Friday are 7-3
Before playing San Antonio are 9-1
After playing Minnesota are 6-4
After a win are 7-3

A few Bobcats at Lakers trends to consider:
Charlotte is 5-1 SU in their last 6 games when playing LA Lakers
The total has gone UNDER in 6 of Charlotte's last 8 games on the road
The total has gone OVER in 4 of Charlotte's last 6 games
Charlotte is 1-4 SU in its last 5 games on the road
LA Lakers are 5-0 SU in their last 5 games
LA Lakers are 10-3 SU in their last 13 games at home
The total has gone UNDER in 15 of the LA Lakers last 22 games at home
LA Lakers are 2-4 ATS in their last 6 games at home


Next up:
Charlotte at Portland, Saturday, March 5
LA Lakers at San Antonio, Sunday, March 6