There are 10 games on the NBA betting board this Wednesday, with the final contest taking place on the West Coast between the New Orleans Pelicans and the Los Angeles Lakers.
Although the Pels have won four of their last five games, they are four-point road underdogs against the Lakers, who are 1-4 in their previous five. That’s due in large part to the return of LeBron James, who is expected to be available for L.A. after missing the last three games with a lingering foot injury.
Here are my best free Pelicans vs. Lakers NBA picks and predictions for Wednesday, February 15.
Pelicans vs Lakers best odds
Pelicans vs Lakers picks and predictions
The Pelicans are coming off back-to-back poor offensive performances but that can't be blamed on Brandon Ingram. Ingram dropped 34 points against the Thunder on Monday, and scored 25 points against the league's top-rated defensive team in the Cavaliers last Friday.
He should find the sledding easier tonight against a Lakers team that ranks a modest 21st in the league in defensive efficiency, and surrenders 118.4 ppg. The Lakers are much better at defending the rim when Anthony Davis suits up, but they aren't great at defending midrange jumpers, which is where Ingram excels.
Ingram missed more than two months with a toe injury, and while he looked bad in his first three games back at the end of January, he has shaken off the rust. He's averaging 30 ppg on 55.2% shooting in five games this month, which includes a 35-point performance against the Lakers on Feb. 4.
With Zion Williamson still sidelined for the Pels and C.J. McCollum listed as questionable for tonight, expect Ingram to carry the scoring burden. Take the Over 25.5 on his points total.
My best bet: Brandon Ingram Over 25.5 points (-115 at BetMGM)
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Pelicans vs Lakers spread analysis
It's been a disappointing season for the Lakers with LeBron James and Davis missing a total of 38 games due to injuries. But with both superstars expected to suit up tonight, they opened as four-point faves against a New Orleans side with injury concerns of its own.
McCollum is listed as questionable after missing Monday's game against the Thunder, while Williamson (26.0 ppg, 7.0 rpg) will continue to be sidelined until well after the All-Star break. The Pels are 9.5 points per 100 possessions better with Zion on the floor according to Cleaning the Glass, and they really missed him at the end of January when they lost 10 games in a row.
New Orleans has shown signs of life since Ingram returned to the lineup, and has gone 4-1 SU and ATS in its last five games. The Pels are coming off a 103-100 victory against the Thunder which snapped a five-game losing skid on the road.
The Lakers are 1-4 SU and ATS in their last five. They lost 127-115 in their previous contest against the Trail Blazers, who went 23-for-47 from deep.
James has been on the sidelines ever since breaking the all-time NBA scoring record against the Thunder last Tuesday. The Lakers collapsed without him in the fourth quarter of that game, and then dropped two of their next three without him.
L.A. jettisoned Russell Westbrook and Thomas Bryant at the trade deadline while adding D'Angelo Russell, Malik Beasley, Jarred Vanderbilt, and Mo Bamba. That should upgrade a few of the Lakers' biggest weaknesses — their perimeter shooting and their bench.
Pelicans vs Lakers Over/Under analysis
These teams combined for a whopping 257 points when they clashed less than two weeks ago. However, there are several reasons to think that tonight's contest might see far less scoring.
It's tough to handicap the total for this game, since the Lakers have played at the second-fastest tempo in the league, but could be less likely to push the tempo without Westbrook.
The Lakers are also significantly better defensively with Davis in the lineup, so their overall defensive numbers this season need to be taken with a grain of salt. They have a defensive rating of 112.9 in 34 games with AD, which is significantly better than their defensive rating of 119.2 in 24 games without him.
Meanwhile, the Pels have slowed things down without the athletic Zion running the floor, and they rank 20th in the league in pace since he hit the IL at the beginning of January. They could be even less productive on offense if McCollum doesn't suit up. It's also worth noting that neither of these teams shoots well from deep.
The Pels are 24th in the league in 3-pointers made per game (10.8), hitting them at a modest 35.6% clip, while the Lakers are 29th in treys per game (10.4) while ranking 26th in 3-point percentage (33.8%).
Pelicans vs Lakers betting trend to know
The Over is 5-0 in the Lakers' last five games against a team with a winning straight up record. Find more NBA betting trends for Pelicans vs. Lakers.
Pelicans vs Lakers game info
| Location: | Crypto.com Arena, Los Angeles, CA |
| Date: | Wednesday, February 15, 2023 |
| Tip-off: | 10:00 p.m. ET |
| TV: | Bally Sports New Orleans, Spectator Sports |
