Los Angeles Lakers vs
New Orleans PelicansPredictions & Preview

Los Angeles Lakers face off against New Orleans Pelicans in Western Conference play-in tournament, with Pelicans as slight favorites.

The NBA postseason begins with the Western Conference play-in tournament, featuring the Los Angeles Lakers against the New Orleans Pelicans. The winner will advance to face the Denver Nuggets in the playoffs, while the loser will have another chance in a play-in round. Tip-off is set for 7:30 ET at the Smoothie King Center in New Orleans, LA. The current betting line has the Pelicans as a slight favorite at -1.

Betting Odds

• Moneyline: Lakers -105 | Pelicans -115
• Spread: Lakers +1 (-110) | Pelicans -1 (-110)
• Total: Over/Under 225.5 (-110)
• Based on the moneyline, the implied probability that Los Angeles will win straight-up is 51%.

Los Angeles vs New Orleans Stats

Los Angeles Lakers

The Los Angeles Lakers have had a tumultuous season filled with highs and lows, finishing with back-to-back wins against Memphis and New Orleans. Sportsbooks are favoring the Lakers to make the postseason, with odds of -600, and have a +425 chance of missing out. They are also viewed as potential contenders for the NBA title, with odds of +3000. The team finished the season with a 39-44 record against the spread and had a 47-35-1 over/under record. In their recent win over New Orleans, the Lakers covered the spread as underdogs, showcasing their strength in field goal percentage and turnover margin. LeBron James and Anthony Davis have been key players for the team this season, leading in scoring, assists, and rebounds. In terms of offensive and defensive statistics, the Lakers rank highly in field goal percentage, offensive assists, and defensive rebounds but struggle with three-point shooting and free throw defense. Their power ranking stands at 20, with a strong offense but a weaker defense.

New Orleans Pelicans Analysis

The New Orleans Pelicans finished the regular season with a record of 49-33 and are favored to make the postseason at -500. Their recent four-game winning streak was snapped by the Los Angeles Lakers in the regular season finale. The team is fully healthy heading into the NBA postseason, with Zion Williamson leading the team in scoring with 22.9 points per game. Jonas Valanciunas has been a strong presence at center, contributing 12.2 points per game and leading the team in rebounding and blocks. Brandon Ingram has also been a key contributor, averaging 20.8 points and a team-leading 5.7 assists per game. The Pelicans have a power ranking of 12 and rank #13 for offense and #8 for defense in the league. They have shown strength in shooting percentages and defensive statistics, making them a competitive team as they enter the playoffs.

Lakers Favored to Win Play-In Game Against New Orleans Saints with LeBron James Leading the Charge

The current odds favor the New Orleans team by a slight margin of -1.0 on the spread for the upcoming play-in game. Considering the scenario of a high-stakes win-and-advance situation, having the opportunity to bet on LeBron James, who is widely regarded as one of the best players in history, at even odds is significant. As a result, I predict the Lakers will emerge victorious in the 7th vs. 8th seed matchup. Recent statistics show that the Lakers have a track record of success against New Orleans, boasting a 5-1 record both straight up and against the spread in their last six encounters. Despite the Pelicans' higher rankings in offensive and defensive efficiency, the Lakers' history of dominance over New Orleans and the experience of players like James and Davis make them the likely victors in this game.

Sources: [ 1 ] [ 2 ]