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If you’re checking your watch and wondering who are the Lakers playing tonight, you might actually be a few hours late—or just in time for the post-game vent session. It has been a weird 24 hours in Los Angeles. The Lakers just wrapped up a frustrating home stand at Crypto.com Arena against the Charlotte Hornets, and honestly, it didn't go the way anyone in purple and gold hoped it would.
The game tipped off late Thursday night (January 15) and bled into the early hours of Friday, January 16. If you’re looking for the next time they actually lace up, you'll have to wait until Saturday, when they head north to Oregon.
The Reality of the Lakers vs. Hornets Matchup
Let’s talk about what just happened because it’s kind of a mess. The Lakers fell 135-117 to the Charlotte Hornets. Yeah, you read that right. 135 points given up at home.
LaMelo Ball basically treated the floor like his old high school gym in Chino Hills. He dropped 30 points, 27 of which came in a second-half explosion that left the Lakers' defense looking like they were stuck in mud. He hit nine three-pointers. Nine! It felt like every time the Lakers tried to close the gap, LaMelo would pull up from the logo and just demoralize them.
Luka Doncic did his best to keep the ship afloat. He put up 39 points, including 19 in the first quarter alone, but the help just wasn't there. LeBron James added 29 points and nine boards, but the bench? Total ghost town. The Lakers’ reserves combined for a measly nine points. You can’t win in the modern NBA when your bench shoots 4-for-19.
Why the Lakers Struggled
It wasn't just the shooting. The Lakers got bullied on the glass, getting outrebounded by 15. They also gave up 56 points in the paint. Marcus Smart, who the Lakers brought in to bring some of that "grit," admitted after the game that LaMelo was just taking—and making—shots that most people would consider "crazy."
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The loss puts the Lakers at 24-15 on the season. They’re still sitting fifth in the Western Conference, but the gap between them and teams like the Minnesota Timberwolves and Denver Nuggets is starting to look like a canyon.
Who Are The Lakers Playing Tonight? (The Next Schedule)
Since the Hornets game technically finished in the early hours of Friday, the Lakers are "off" tonight, January 16. They’re currently packing their bags for a road trip.
If you are looking for the next tip-off, here is the immediate outlook:
Saturday, January 17: Lakers at Portland Trail Blazers
This is a 7:00 PM PT (10:00 PM ET) start at the Moda Center. The Blazers are 20-22 and sitting in 9th place. On paper, the Lakers should handle this, but after the Charlotte disaster, nothing feels like a "gimme."
Sunday, January 18: Toronto Raptors at Lakers
The Lakers fly right back home for a back-to-back. The Raptors haven't been world-beaters this year (around 25-17), but they play a physical style that usually gives a tired Lakers squad fits.
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The Injury Bug is Biting Hard
You can't talk about who are the Lakers playing tonight without mentioning who isn't playing. The roster is currently held together by tape and prayers.
- Austin Reaves: He’s out with a grade 2 left calf strain. He’s going to be re-evaluated in a few weeks, but for now, his absence is killing the secondary playmaking.
- Adou Thiero: The rookie is out for at least another few weeks with an MCL sprain.
- Jaxson Hayes: He’s been dealing with a nagging hamstring issue. He missed the Hornets game and is currently day-to-day for the Portland trip.
Without Reaves, there is a massive amount of pressure on Marcus Smart and Rui Hachimura to produce. Rui has been dealing with his own calf issues lately, which makes the rotation even thinner.
The Western Conference Grind
The West is a bloodbath in 2026. The Oklahoma City Thunder are currently running away with the #1 seed at 35-7. The Lakers are basically in a dogfight with the Houston Rockets and Phoenix Suns just to stay out of the Play-In tournament.
One thing to watch: the trade deadline is approaching. There’s a lot of chatter around the league that the Lakers need more wing depth. Seeing them give up 20 threes to the Hornets only makes those rumors louder.
How to Watch the Next Games
If you’re planning to catch the Blazers game or the Raptors game this weekend, here’s the broadcast situation:
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- Local Fans: SportsNet LA remains the primary home for everything Lakers.
- National/Out of Market: Most games are hitting NBA League Pass, though the Saturday Portland game will have some local blackouts depending on where you live.
- Streaming: Fubo and Amazon Prime Video (via the NBA ID) have been the go-to for most fans this season.
Actionable Next Steps for Fans
If you're following the team's trajectory right now, keep an eye on the injury reports about two hours before the Portland tip-off. If Jaxson Hayes doesn't suit up, the Lakers are going to be incredibly small against Portland’s frontcourt.
Also, watch the betting lines for the Raptors game on Sunday. Back-to-back games after a flight are notorious "trap games" for the Lakers, especially with LeBron playing heavy minutes at 41 years old.
The most important thing to track is the minutes for Luka and LeBron. They played 38 and 36 minutes respectively in a blowout loss to Charlotte. That’s not sustainable. If the Lakers can’t get their bench to contribute at least 20-25 points, the Portland game could be another long night for Lakers fans.
Check the official Lakers app or the NBA's starting lineup tracker around 6:30 PM PT on Saturday to see if any late-scratch injuries pop up, as the team has been very cautious with "load management" for the veterans during this January stretch.