The NBA returns from the All-Star break in full form on Thursday night, but due to an earlier cancelation, the Hornets will face the Lakers in Los Angeles as the lone game on Wednesday. There are plenty of storylines in this one, but most notably that these two teams had a trade in place to swap Dalton Knecht and Mark Williams prior to the trade deadline. However, the Lakers failed Williams on his physical, which rescinded the deal.
Williams hasn’t played since the deal was initially agreed upon, but is slated to make his return on Wednesday, against the team that said he was not in physical condition to play for them. Williams has come out and voiced his opinion that he was shocked, and believes he should’ve passed his physical and been a member of the Lakers. Williams pointed to all the minutes he was playing prior to the trade, and he’s correct. The big man has logged 30 or more minutes in eight of his last nine games, and has been playing the best basketball of his career.
Dating back to late December, Williams is averaging 18 points and 11.4 rebounds per game over his last 15 outings. That span includes 11 points and eight rebounds in a matchup against the Lakers, but he was going head to head with Anthony Davis. After swapping Davis for Luka Doncic, Los Angeles is extremely thin in the front court. Williams will be matched up against the likes of Jaxson Hayes and Alex Len in this one, not to mention the chip on his shoulder going against the team that failed him.
Williams has eight double doubles over his last 15 games, but five times fell short by two or less rebounds, and one time fell short by a point. From a matchup standpoint, the Lakers are an ideal team to target Williams again, due to their lack of size, poor defense and playing at a rapid pace. Add on the motivational aspect of the handicap, and I think we can expect Williams to place a very aggressive game on Wednesday at Crypto.
I’ll back Williams at plus-money to go for a double double in his return to the hardwood.
The Play: Mark Williams Double Double (+110) 1-unit
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