Pelicans Host Lakers in First Game of the Play-In

The West was definitely the deeper conference this year and this match-up is living proof. The

49-33 New Orleans Pelicans, who sit in the 7th seed in the conference, would be tied with the

3rd best in the East’s Milwaukee Bucks. The winner between the Pelicans and the Los Angeles

Lakers will advance to round 1 collision with the defending NBA champion, and 2nd seeded,

Denver Nuggets. The loser will host the winner of the 9/10 game between the Sacramento

Kings and the Golden State Warriors.

New Orleans Pelicans

This is the third straight play-in appearance for the Pelicans who recorded their most

regular-season wins since changing their name from the Hornets. They finished this regular

season with a 4-1 tally through their last five.

Strength

In the 16 contests prior to the Pelicans’ season finale against the Lakers, former first-overall pick

Zion Williamson averaged 25.4 points, 6.6 rebounds and 4.7 assists. Thanks to an injury

plagued first five years of his career, we finally see Williamson in the postseason. On the year,

he averaged a solid 23.0 points. He’s backed up by CJ McCollum and Brandon Ingram who

posted averages of 20.9 and 20.0 points respectively.

Weakness

The Lakers have the Pelicans’ number this season plain and simple. They lost three of four

meetings, including two high-stakes matchups. Those two games were an In-Season

Tournament semi-final meeting and the final game of the year which had implications on

seeding.

Los Angeles Lakers

The Lakers have lost just three of their last fourteen games, including a 7-1 road record

during that stretch. LA has been here before, back in 2021 and 2023, playing in the 7-v-8

Play-In matchup where they came out with a win each time.

Strength

It’s purely elementary at this point, LeBron James is LeBron James and LeBron James puts up

points. Age is a construct for this man. He averaged 28.8 points in the regular-season series

that was dominated by the purple and gold.

Weakness

While the Lakers average the second-most points per game in the Western Conference, their

game on the defensive side of the ball has not been pretty. They average 117.4 points against

which ranks them as the third-worst defensive team out West.

Current Odds

Spread Moneyline Total

Lakers +1 -110 -107 O 224.5 -115

Pelicans -1 -110 -113 U 224.5 -105

Season Series

December 7: Pelicans 89 @ Lakers 133

December 31: Lakers 109 @ Pelicans 129

February 9: Pelicans 122 @ Lakers 139

April 14: Lakers 124 @ Pelicans 108

For the latest NBA odds visit BetOnline.