Play-In Time: Lakers vs Pelicans NBA Betting Lines

The first NBA play-in tournament game is Tuesday night and a star-studded affair as LeBron James and the No. 8 seed Los Angeles Lakers visit Zion Williams and the No. 7 New Orleans Pelicans – a rematch from a game Sunday won by the Lakers. However, the Pels are short favorites on the NBA odds

2024 NBA Play-In Tournament Expert Analysis Los Angeles vs. New Orleans | MyBookie NBA

Lakers vs Pelicans Season Series

The Lakers were 3-1 vs. the Pelicans this season, including a 124-108 win in New Orleans on Sunday to close the regular season. The Lakers also beat the Pelicans, 133-89, in the semifinals of the inaugural NBA In-Season Tournament. Los Angeles has an all-time record of 47-28 versus New Orleans. Since the Pelicans’ move to New Orleans from Charlotte prior to the 2002-03 season, the Lakers have gone 21-15 at Smoothie King Center.

Why Bet on Los Angeles Lakers?

The winner of this game automatically is the No. 7 seed in the Western Conference playoffs and would face No. 2 Denver, the defending NBA champion, in Round 1.

The Lakers were 124-108 winners in New Orleans on Sunday to get the No. 8 seed. Each member of New Orleans’ army of wing defenders was too small and slender to handle James’ force, physicality and savvy.

AD was dominant until there was 5:52 to go in the fourth quarter Sunday. That’s when Pelicans forward Larry Nance Jr. pushed Davis in the back while he was attempting to grab the offensive rebound after Lakers guard Gabe Vincent missed a layup.

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Why Bet on New Orleans Pelicans?

McCollum extended his streak of games with 25 or more points to seven appearances. Plus, McCollum has scored at least 20 points in all but one of his outings dating back to March 22.

Zion Williamson had just 12 points but also eight boards and eight assists. One bad outing did not ruin a stellar season, however, as Williamson scored 25 or more points in 32 different appearances during the regular season while also racking up 12 double-doubles across 70 contests.

Playing for the first time since March 21 in his return from a left knee bone contusion, Ingram took back his spot in the starting five from Trey Murphy but unsurprisingly had his minutes managed. Though he shot efficiently from the field in his return, Ingram was a team-worst minus-28 during his time on the court and handled a meager 20.3 percent usage rate, narrowly eking out Herbert Jones (20 percent) for the lowest among the Pelicans’ five starters.

The Pelicans are ranked 2nd in the NBA in most double digit wins this season, posting 32 games where the teams have won by at least 10-points. Additionally, New Orleans is ranked 2nd in the NBA in games won by 20-plus points, posting 16 games on the season. But the Pelicans have struggled in clutch games this season. The Pelicans are 13-15 in such games — defined as the score within five points in the last five minutes or overtime — No. 21 in the league. New Orleans’ net rating in clutch games (minus-12.8) ranks No. 25 in the league.

Bet New Orleans to Win
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