Here is what you need to know before the Lakers host the Charlotte Hornets.
1)
Julius Randle is coming off perhaps his best game yet. The sophomore dropped a career-high 23 points against the Clippers on Friday, while also racking up 14 rebounds. Randle shot 9-of-16 from the field in notching his team-best 17th double-double of the season.
2)
Randle will start for the sixth straight game, as his fellow power forward, Larry Nance Jr., suffered a setback with his sore knee. Nance had played the Lakers’ last three contests after missing a week of action, but he will sit out once again against Charlotte.
3)
Kobe Bryant (sore shoulder and Achilles) will be a game-time decision for his final tilt against the Hornets. The 20-year veteran’s legendary career technically began with Charlotte, which drafted him 13th overall in 1996 before trading him in exchange for Vlade Divac.
4)
Last time these teams faced off, Kemba Walker exploded for 38 points to rally his team past Los Angeles. Walker’s output was the second-highest by an opposing player this year, as he caught fire late by scoring 18 of Charlotte’s 23 fourth-quarter points.
5)
Walker’s list of victims extends far beyond just the purple and gold. He dropped a franchise-record 52 points against Utah two weeks ago, and is tied with Kevin Durant for the most shots made in the final two minutes of a one-possession game (16).
6)
The Hornets’ roster has been thrashed by an outbreak of injuries. Nicolas Batum (toe strain), Al Jefferson (knee surgery) and Cody Zeller (shoulder sprain) are all out. Meanwhile, Jeremy Lin (ankle sprain) and Jeremy Lamb (toe strain) are questionable.
7)
That Jeremy combo of Lin and Lamb has been vital for Charlotte’s offense. Though Lin is currently penciled in as a starter, they are the highest-scoring bench duo in the Eastern Conference with 21.8 points per game.
8)
The Hornets’ offense has been revamped to revolve around the 3-point shot this year. They rank third in the NBA in made triples (10.2), with 4.1 more than they were hitting last season.
9)
Curiously for a team owned by Michael Jordan, the Hornets are not a team known to rattle the rim. They have dunked only 80 times this season — which is fewer than five individual players: DeAndre Jordan, Anthony Davis, Dwight Howard, Nerlens Noel and Hassan Whiteside.
10)
If this game goes to overtime, one team has the clear advantage. Charlotte is 5-0 past regulation this season, including a pair of double-overtime victories.