The Los Angeles Lakers made the most of their weekend and, in return, got a second straight game against the New Orleans Pelicans with a playoff spot on the line.
Both the Lakers and the Pelicans had reason to win on Sunday, yet L.A. controlled the entire game, leading wire-to-wire after getting out to a 13-4 advantage in the first four minutes.
There may be a thought to betting on New Orleans’s revenge in tonight's Play-In game, with even more at stake, but recent history makes our lean clear in the NBA picks as we dig into our Lakers vs. Pelicans predictions.
Lakers vs Pelicans predictions
My best bet
Lakers +1.5 (-115 at BetMGM)
My analysis
The New Orleans Pelicans winning would be more fun. Watching LeBron James in a single-elimination game on Friday night would be the peak of entertainment. And getting Brandon Ingram as much time off as possible before a playoff series would only better postseason basketball as a whole.
A similar argument could have been made for the In-Season Tournament semifinal when the Los Angeles Lakers boat raced the Pelicans in the second and third quarters to turn a one-point deficit after the first quarter into a 39-point lead heading into the fourth. New Orleans advancing to the In-Season title game would have given a young team a chance to star in a pressure-packed moment, while LeBron could have gotten a few days off in one of his final seasons.
Much of the same could have been argued even on Sunday. The Pelicans had a chance to escape the Play-In, so Ingram would have had more time to recover, and the Lakers would have been doomed to the lesser game, setting LeBron up for two single-elimination games.
Every time this chance presents itself for New Orleans — a chance to take a stride forward as a franchise and burgeon its postseason hopes — Los Angeles emphatically throws its weight around.
Some deference still needs to be given to the King. In a one-game effort, few in the NBA can match him, and no one on the Pelicans has that level.
LeBron scored 28 points while dishing out an absurd 17 assists on Sunday. For good measure, he added 11 rebounds and five steals. Yours truly rarely sees fit to put faith in LeBron James. His heavy thumb on the scales of the Lakers’ roster-building is a large part of why Los Angeles is in the Play-In Tournament yet again.
But when it comes to one game, LeBron is still Omar Little in Season 3 of “The Wire.” Nothing else needs to be said.
Backing a LeBron-specific prop gets tricky because he can control a game in any way he pleases. In that In-Season Tournament semifinal, he scored 30 points while handing out a relatively paltry eight assists and grabbing a mere five rebounds. But by scoring 30 points on 12 field goals, he ended New Orleans’s up-and-coming hopes.
One way or another, he will do it again Tuesday night.
Lakers vs Pelicans same-game parlay (SGP)
Lakers +1
LeBron James Over 26.5 points
Brandon Ingram Under 18.5 points
It may be difficult to pin a best bet on a LeBron James prop, but if there is one to include in a same-game parlay, it is his scoring. He failed to hit a 3-pointer on Sunday and still put up 28 points. With Los Angeles absolutely needing to stack wins to end the season, LeBron averaged 32.7 points in the final three games.
The Lakers still absolutely need to win, lest they risk an entire season on a win-or-go-home game on Friday.
Doubting Ingram is not a fun approach. His game is a joy. But he did not look aggressive or efficient on Sunday, scoring only 13 points in 23 minutes in his first action in nearly a month due to a bone bruise on his knee. Expecting him to rally two days later is too optimistic.
Learn how to bet a same-game parlay with these helpful tips and strategies.
Lakers vs Pelicans odds
Lakers vs Pelicans live odds
Lakers vs Pelicans opening odds
- Spread: Los Angeles +1 (-115) | New Orleans -1 (-105)
- Moneyline: Los Angeles -110 | New Orleans -110
- Over/Under: Over 227 (-110) | Under 227 (-110)
Lakers vs Pelicans spread and Over/Under analysis
- Shop around and you can find the Lakers as 1.5-point underdogs or as 1-point favorites.
- While the spread has moved, it has effectively toggled between those numbers with each book making its moves at different points.
- The total, however, has moved in just one direction. It opened on Sunday evening at 227.5 and fell to 224.5 by Monday morning.
- The last three games between these two have gone Over their totals by an average of 10.2 points.
Lakers vs Pelicans trend
The Pelicans are 5-9 against the spread at home since the All-Star Break. Find more NBA betting trends for Lakers vs. Pelicans.
Warriors vs Kings game info
| Location: | Smoothie King Center, New Orleans, LA |
| Date: | Tuesday, 4-16-2024 |
| Tip-off: | 7:30 p.m. ET |
| TV: | TNT |
Lakers vs Pelicans latest injuries
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