Los Angeles Lakers vs Charlotte Hornets

Excitement builds in North Carolina as the Los Angeles Lakers travel east to face the Charlotte Hornets at the Spectrum Center on Monday, November 10, 2025. Tip-off is scheduled for 7:00 p.m. Eastern Time, and both teams arrive at different points in their early-season journeys. The Lakers are continuing their demanding road trip and looking to bounce back from recent inconsistency, while the Hornets return home eager to rediscover momentum in front of their fans after struggling with injuries and defensive lapses.

Heading into this matchup, both teams are dealing with notable absences that could reshape their rotations. The Lakers will again be without LeBron James, who remains sidelined due to lingering back discomfort. Austin Reaves, recovering from a minor groin issue, has been cleared to return and is expected to play limited minutes as the coaching staff monitors his workload. Charlotte’s situation is more concerning: star guard LaMelo Ball remains out with an ankle injury, and rookie standout Brandon Miller is unavailable because of a shoulder problem. Miles Bridges is listed as a game-time decision with back soreness, leaving head coach Charles Lee with fewer offensive options and an increased reliance on bench players such as Nick Smith Jr. and Bryce McGowens.

Tactically, the Lakers under J.J. Redick have emphasized tightening their half-court defense and establishing pace through quick ball movement. Without LeBron, the offense runs primarily through Anthony Davis and Luka Dončić, who are expected to anchor the scoring while the supporting cast focuses on creating spacing and fast-break opportunities. Redick has also been vocal about reducing turnovers, a problem that has haunted the Lakers during their road stretch. On the other end, Lee has stressed energy and tempo for Charlotte, hoping to use the team’s youth and speed to generate easy baskets. Expect the Hornets to rely heavily on pick-and-roll actions and corner shooting, especially with their key playmakers sidelined.

Media coverage ahead of the matchup has painted this as a test of depth and discipline. Los Angeles outlets have noted the team’s steady defensive improvement but raised concerns about their tendency to start slow in first quarters. Charlotte’s local press, meanwhile, has focused on the team’s resilience amid injuries, highlighting how Banchero’s absence (sic—should be Ball’s) has forced others to take leadership roles. Analysts have described the game as an opportunity for both teams to measure their adaptability — for the Lakers, how they function without LeBron’s leadership; for the Hornets, whether their bench can deliver against a top-tier frontcourt.

In the pregame studio discussions, the consensus among analysts is that the Lakers hold the upper hand thanks to their superior interior presence and experience. Commentators have spotlighted the matchup between Anthony Davis and Mark Williams as a key battleground, while also questioning whether Charlotte’s perimeter defense can contain Dončić’s playmaking. Despite the Lakers being favored, analysts warn that the Hornets’ youthful energy and home-court confidence could make the game closer than expected. Ultimately, most predictions lean toward a Lakers win — provided they avoid another sluggish start and maintain composure in the closing minutes.