The Los Angeles Lakers fight to secure a postseason berth continues this evening as they square off against the New Orleans Hornets at the STAPLES Center. Start time in tonight’s meeting between the Lakers and Hornets is set for 10:30pm ET on NBA TV. Los Angeles is listed as a -8 against the spread favorite in the latest NBA Odds and the game total is set at 196 points. New Orleans is a +320 moneyline selection ($100 wins $320) to win its 28^th game of the season.

The Lakers are still very much in the Western Conference playoff race, but their margin for error is almost non existent. Los Angeles 109-95 loss to the Clippers on Sunday snapped a three game winning streak and dropped the team’s record to 40-37.

The setback resulted in the Lakers falling a half game back of the red hot Jazz, who recorded their seventh win in eight games with a 97-90 road victory over Golden State on Sunday.

Fortunately for Los Angeles, which plays four of its last five regular season games at the STAPLES Center, the Hornets, despite their improved play of late, are not a good road team. New Orleans (27-50), which is 5-4 in its last nine games, recorded its 11^th away victory of the season over the weekend by dropping the Suns 95-92 at the US Airways Center.

Prior to their win at Phoenix, the Hornets had lost eight straight away from home, losing to the Cavaliers, Thunder, Grizzlies, Nets, Wizards, Timberwolves, Warriors, and Jazz by an average of 13 points per game.

New Orleans has also lost 10 straight to the Lakers and it is 0-7 in its last seven trips to the STAPLES Center (average margin of loss = 8.7 points).

Notable Trends: The Lakers are 1-9 against the spread (7-3 straight up) in their last 10 games as a home favorite with a spread between 8 and 10.5 points and total between 195 and 200.

New Orleans Hornets vs Los Angeles Lakers NBA Odds:

New Orleans Hornets +8 (-110), Over 196 (-110), +320 (Moneyline)

Los Angeles Lakers -8 (-110), Under 196 (-110), -400 (Moneyline)

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