The Los Angeles Lakers travel to the Smoothie King Center to take on the New Orleans Pelicans on Friday night. Here’s a Pelicans vs Lakers Prediction. This article will include a Pelicans vs Lakers Pick.
Los Angeles Lakers Betting Preview
The Los Angeles Lakers have been in great form as they’ve won six of their last eight games overall. They will be eager to bounce back in this one after getting humbled by the Thunder in a 121-92 road defeat on Wednesday. Luka Doncic led the team with 19 points, seven rebounds and seven assists in 19 minutes of action, Dalton Knecht added 16 points on six of seven shooting off the bench while Rui Hachimura and Austin Reaves each scored 13 points.
As a team, the Lakers shot just 40 percent from the field and 11 of 35 from the 3-point line as they got off to a terrible start. They could never recover after getting outscored by 70-38 in the first half and trailing by as many as 37 points.
New Orleans Pelicans Betting Preview
Meanwhile, the New Orleans Pelicans have been in a slump as they’ve lost nine of their first 11 games of the season. They will be hoping to avoid a fourth straight defeat after falling short to the Trail Blazers in a 125-117 defeat on Wednesday. Derik Queen led the team in scoring with 26 points on 12 of 18 shooting off the bench, Saddiq Bey added 25 points, six rebounds and five assists while Trey Murphy III chipped in with 22 points on eight of 18 shooting.
As a team, the Pelicans shot 47 percent from the field and 13 of 39 from the 3-point line as they poured in 34 points in the second quarter to take the narrow lead into halftime. Only to see their hard work go to waste in the third quarter where they got outscored by 38-26 to fall behind by 15 points.
Why the New Orleans Pelicans will win
- The Pelicans have won each of their last two games as home underdogs against Pacific Division opponents following a loss.
- The Lakers have lost six of their last seven games at Smoothie King Center following a road loss.
- The Pelicans have covered the spread in seven of their last eight home games against Pacific Division opponents following a loss.
- The Lakers have failed to cover the spread in five of their last six games at Smoothie King Center following a road loss.
Why the Los Angeles Lakers will win
- The Pelicans have lost each of their last 12 games against teams that held a winning record.
- The Lakers have won each of their last 10 games against Southwest Division opponents.
- The Lakers have covered the spread in each of their last nine games against Southwest Division opponents.
- The Pelicans have failed to cover the spread in eight of their last nine games as home underdogs.
Total Points Facts
- Each of the Lakers’ last seven night games on the first leg of a back-to-back have gone OVER the total points line.
- Six of the Pelicans’ last seven home games against opponents who are on the first leg of a back-to-back have gone UNDER the total points line.
Pelicans vs Lakers Prediction
The Lakers are still playing without Gabe Vincent and LeBron James, while the Pelicans have ruled out Dejounte Murray, Jordan Poole and Zion Williamson. The Lakers are coming into this meeting with plenty of momentum as they were rolling before they got stopped in their tracks by the league-leading Thunder in their last outing. In contrast, the Pelicans have been one of the worst teams in the league so far and they are just finding it so tough to find consistent offense with three of their best players sitting out injured. You can’t say that the Lakers have been at their best as they’re still dealing with injuries, but I think they bounce back in this one after suffering a bad loss in their last outing.