HORNETS: New Orleans is finally facing elimination, 2 games later than most people suspected. The Hornets have been a game opponent for the Lakers, as they've been in each game played so far. New Orleans has been led by G Chris Paul, as he's forced his way back into the conversation of best PG in the NBA. Paul is averaging team highs of 24.4 PPG and 11.6 APG against the Lakers in the playoffs. F Trevor Ariza has played well against his former team, as he's averaging 16.2 PPG and a team high 6.8 RPG in the postseason. New Orleans is 29-14 SU and 21-21 ATS in home games this year. The Hornets are 24-17 ATS as the listed underdog this season, including 3-2 ATS as a home underdog between 3.5 and 6 points. The Hornets are 5-2 ATS in their last 7 Thursday games. New Orleans is 5-2 ATS in their last 7 games following an ATS loss. The Hornets are 5-2-1 ATS in their last 8 games following a SU loss of more than 10 points. The Hornets are 7-3-1 ATS in their last 11 games against the Pacific Division. New Orleans is 3-8 ATS in their last 11 playoff games as the listed underdog. The Hornets are 1-4 ATS in their last 5 games playing on 1 days rest.

Projected Score: 92 (SIDE of the Day)