La Clippers vs Charlotte Hornets Picks and Predictions March 16th 2025

LA Clippers vs Charlotte Hornets March 16th 2025

The Hornets (+475) travel to Inglewood to take on the Clippers (-658) in a non-conference matchup. The Clippers are favored by 12 points and have won two straight games. The over/under line for this game is 221.5 points.

This game will be played at the Intuit Dome and tip-off is scheduled for 7:00 ET. The Hornets (17-49) are 14th in the Eastern Conference and 4th in the Southeast Division. The Clippers (37-30) are 8th in the Western Conference and 3rd in the Pacific Division. This game will be shown on FDSS.

Get Expert NBA Picks Today! – Stay ahead with the latest game predictions.

Hornets vs. Clippers Key Information

• Sport: NBA
• Teams: Charlotte Hornets at Los Angeles Clippers
• Where: Inglewood at Intuit Dome
• Date: Sunday, March 16th
• Betting Odds LAC -12, CHA +475 | LAC -658 O/U 221.5

The Hornets Can Win If…

Charlotte improved to 17-49 on the season with a 145-134 road win over the Spurs on Friday. The Hornets, who were +2.5 point underdogs, not only won but covered the spread. The game’s total of 279 points easily surpassed the O/U line of 232.5.

Charlotte took control early, leading 37-26 after the 1st quarter and 44-29 in the 2nd. They maintained their lead with a 40-40 3rd quarter, going into the 4th up 121-95. The Spurs made a late push with an 11-0 run, but the Hornets held on for the win.

The Hornets poured in 145 points in their win over the Spurs, shooting 60% from the field and hitting 26 threes at a 56.5% clip. LaMelo Ball led the way with 27 points and 15 assists, connecting on 7 threes, while Nick Smith Jr. added 26 points, making 6 threes at 85.7% efficiency.

Ball scored 14 points in the 3rd quarter, while Smith put up 17 in the 2nd. Josh Green also contributed 12 of his 20 points in the opening period.

Even with a shaky defensive performance, the Hornets managed to secure a win against the Spurs, allowing 134 points. They gave up 26 points in the 1st quarter and 29 in the 2nd but struggled in the 2nd half, allowing 40 points in the 3rd and 39 in the 4th.

Charlotte allowed San Antonio to shoot 50% from the field, including 45% from three-point range, with the Spurs hitting 21 threes. The Hornets sent the Spurs to the line 22 times, where they made 17 free throws. Defensively, Charlotte recorded 7 steals and 2 blocks.

• The Hornets are 2-1 ATS in their three last road games and 2-1 straight-up.
• Charlotte has done well both straight up and vs the spread as the underdog, going 2-1 SU and 2-1 ATS in their last three games.
• Over their last three games, the Hornets have an over/under record of 1-2 and are 2-1 vs. the spread.

Track Every NBA Team’s Performance! – Get in-depth stats & rankings.

The Clippers Can Win If…

The Clippers improved to 37-30 on the season with a 121-98 road win over the Hawks on Friday. Favored by 5 points, L.A. covered the spread, while the game’s total of 219 points fell short of the 234.5 O/U line.

After trailing 61-53, the Clippers went on a 14-0 run and dominated the 3rd quarter, holding Atlanta to just 8 points. They outscored the Hawks 35-8 in the 3rd and 33-29 in the 4th to close out the game.

James Harden and Kawhi Leonard each scored 25 points in the Clippers’ win over the Hawks, with Harden adding 13 points in the 3rd quarter. Harden also hit 4 threes at a 50% rate and finished with 8 rebounds and 7 assists. Ivica Zubac contributed 18 points, shooting 88.9% from the field.

The Clippers shot 54.7% overall and 44.4% from three, making 12 threes in the game. Amir Coffey scored 9 of his 12 points in the 4th quarter, while Derrick Jones added 8 of his 14 points in the final period.

The Clippers’ defense shined in the 3rd quarter, holding the Hawks to just 8 points, which helped them secure a 121-98 win. Overall, they allowed 98 points, with 26 in the 1st quarter, 35 in the 2nd, and 29 in the 4th.

Defensively, the Clippers limited the Hawks to 42% shooting, including 27% from beyond the arc, with Atlanta making just 9 threes. The Hawks went 15/17 from the free-throw line. The Clippers also recorded 14 steals and 5 blocks.

• Although Los Angeles has a straight up record of 3-7 in their last ten home games, they have not held up as well vs the spread going 2-8. The team averaged 112 points per game in these games.
• Going back to their previous ten games as the favorite, Los Angeles has an ATS mark of 3-7 while going 6-4 straight up.
• In their last three games, the Clippers have an over/under record of 2-1 and are 2-1 vs. the spread.

Your Guide to NBA Profits

Start Winning Today

Get Free Trial

The Lean

We’re calling a win for the Clippers, with a final score of 128-113, and we’re taking them to cover the spread. Our recommendation is to bet on the Clippers at -12.

Regarding the over/under, the current line is set at 221.5, and our model predicts the Hornets and Clippers to score a combined 241 points. We recommend betting on the over

Hot-Shooting Hornets Face Defensive-Minded Clippers

Hornets Riding Recent Offensive Surge

The Charlotte Hornets (17-49) make their third trip to the Los Angeles area this season as they take on the Los Angeles Clippers (37-30) Sunday in Inglewood. Charlotte has found momentum recently, winning three of their past four games and coming off a franchise-best shooting performance.

On Friday, the Hornets set a franchise record by hitting 26 of 46 (56.5%) three-pointers in a 145-134 victory over the San Antonio Spurs. LaMelo Ball led the team with 27 points, hitting seven threes, while Miles Bridges (21 points) and Josh Green (20 points) also significantly contributed.

Ball highlighted the team’s strong overall effort:

“It was fun to just play good basketball and get the win… We’re trying to put a full 48 minutes together.”

Clippers Gaining Momentum Through Defense

The Clippers enter Sunday having won five of their last six games. They’re overcoming early-season injuries and are starting to find consistency, particularly on defense, where they rank fifth in the NBA, allowing just 108.7 points per game.

Kawhi Leonard, after a slow start due to knee issues, is back in form, averaging 23.3 points and 6 rebounds over the last 10 games. On Friday, Leonard and James Harden each scored 25 points to secure a 121-98 victory against the Atlanta Hawks, with Harden contributing significantly to a decisive third-quarter surge.

Harden emphasized the team’s defensive strength and growing offensive rhythm:

“Defensively, we were really good. Offensively, we’re still improving, and once fully healthy, we can turn the corner.”

Key Players to Watch

Charlotte will depend heavily on LaMelo Ball’s hot shooting and playmaking, along with Miles Bridges and Josh Green, who have shown consistent scoring ability recently. For Los Angeles, Kawhi Leonard and James Harden lead the offense, while the recent acquisition Bogdan Bogdanovic has been essential, averaging 12.5 points and 3.1 assists since joining the Clippers.

Head-to-Head Insights

The Clippers have historically dominated this matchup, carrying a 13-game winning streak against the Hornets, including a 112-104 victory earlier this season. Charlotte’s last win over Los Angeles came in November 2017, highlighting their challenge.

Who Will Win the NBA Championship? – Get the latest odds & expert picks.

Keys to the Game

Charlotte needs to sustain its perimeter shooting to break through the Clippers’ solid defensive front. Meanwhile, Los Angeles will focus on containing Ball and exploiting Charlotte’s defensive vulnerabilities.

Betting Odds & Expert Predictions

For comprehensive analysis, explore our expert betting guide, covering the latest insights into NBA odds, Western Conference standings, and strategic breakdowns.

Check out our dedicated odds page, team page, or pick page for the latest betting odds and in-depth game predictions.