Lakers (7-3) against Hornets (4-6) | Game 11 of 82
⏰ Notice: 4:00 pm PST
📍 Location: Spectrum Center – Charlotte, North Carolina
📺 TV: Spectrum SportsNet, NBA League Pass
📻 Radio: ESPN LA 710 / 1330 KWKW
After taking a “punch in the mouth” in a 20-point loss in Atlanta, the Los Angeles Lakers (7-3) look to bounce back Monday in Charlotte as they continue their five-game road trip against the Hornets.
Charlotte will be without All-Star guard LaMelo Ball, who is sidelined with an ankle injury after averaging 23.3 points, 9.8 assists and 7.8 rebounds in six games. Miles Bridges, the Hornets’ second-leading scorer at 20.7 points per game, is questionable with a back problem.
Rookie forward Brandon Miller also remains out with a shoulder injury.
Without Ball and potentially Bridges, the Hornets will rely on Collin Sexton (16.1 ppg, 5.3 rpg) and rookie Kon Knueppel (16.4 rpg, 6.0 rpg) to carry the scoring load.
For the Lakers, Luka Dončić looks to rebound from his lowest scoring night of the season in Atlanta (22 points).
Austin Reaves will likely return after a three-game absence, as he was upgraded from out to questionable and then probable after his afternoon shootout in Charlotte.
LeBron James (sciatica), Gabe Vincent (ankle) and Adou Thiero (knee) are out (still).
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LaMelo Ball (ankle): Out
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Miles Bridges (back): Questionable
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Brandon Miller (shoulder): Out
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Grant Williams (knee): Out
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Josh Green (shoulder): Out
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Drew Peterson: Day to Day (Two-Way Contract)
After being held to 22 points in Atlanta, Dončić will look to reassert control against a Hornets team that ranks among the bottom seven teams in defensive rating. Expect him to bounce back after two disappointing previous games, shooting 36% (16 of 44).
Ayton paint presence:
Deandre Ayton has recorded four double-doubles so far and will have another favorable matchup to add another against Charlotte’s thin frontcourt. The Hornets have struggled to contain physical bigs, giving Ayton a prime opportunity to dominate the glass again.
Knueppel’s Rookie Rise:
Knueppel, the Hornets’ fourth overall first-round draft pick, has quietly emerged as one of the Hornets’ most consistent scorers after scoring a career-high 30 points against the Heat. How the Lakers defend him will be something to monitor as he looks to come out and make his name heard against Los Angeles.
The Lakers will wear their classic gold uniforms in Charlotte, while the Hornets will show off their teal threads.
After Monday’s matchup, the Lakers continue their five-game road trip to Oklahoma City, New Orleans and Milwaukee before returning to Los Angeles next week.