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

How to Bet Lakers at Pelicans NBA Odds & TV Info

When: Tuesday, 7:30 PM ET
Where: Smoothie King Center
TV: TNT
Stream: TNT app
Radio: Tunein.com
NBA Odds: Pelicans -1 (total 223.5)

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.

Lakers Last 5

@ Pelicans – W124-108

@ Grizzlies – W123-120

vs Warriors – L134-120

vs Timberwolves – L127-117

vs Cavaliers – W116-97

The Lakers were 124-108 winners in New Orleans on Sunday to get the No. 8 seed. LeBron James had his 112th career triple-double with 28 points, 17 assists and 11 rebounds. The 17 assists were a season-high mark for James, and it was also his fifth triple-double of this season. Each member of New Orleans’ army of wing defenders was too small and slender to handle James’ force, physicality and savvy.

“It was a good test for us,” James said of the win. “A good regular season for us, even throughout everything that’s gone on throughout this whole season. For us to end the season 12 games over .500 — 13 if you count the championship in the In-Season Tournament — I mean, with everything we’ve been through, that’s a pretty good season for us.”

James became the fifth player in NBA history to post 25+ points, 10+ rebounds, 15+ assists and 5+ steals in a game. With his eighth assist of the night, James reached the 11,000 career assist mark; he is now the first player in NBA history to have career totals of at least 40,000 points, 11,000 rebounds and 11,000 assists. Austin Reaves chipped in 20 points in 29 minutes. He hit the 20-point mark for the 21st time this season.

Lakers head coach Darvin Ham said Anthony Davis experienced hip and back spasms after landing awkwardly on the court in the second half of Sunday’s win. AD finished with 30 points, 11 rebounds, three assists and two steals across 33 minutes. “There’s no doubt I’m gonna play [on Tuesday],” Davis said.

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. Davis said the contact resulted in a “hyperextension” when he landed, adding that his “back just locked up.” He appeared in a career-high 76 games this season and finished with averages of 24.7 points, 12.6 boards (career high), 3.5 assists, 1.2 steals and 2.3 blocks. He ranked 3rd in the NBA in rebounds per game (12.7) this season and 4th in blocks per game.

Bet LA to Win
NBA Betting Odds Tonight

Play-In Tournament Vegas Picks NBA Odds Subject to Change	SPREAD	MONEYLINE	TOTAL
New Orleans	-1	-111	O 223.5
Los Angeles	+1	-110	U 223.5
NBA First Half Lines \| 2nd Half NBA Lines

Why Bet on New Orleans Pelicans?

The loser of this game will host the winner of the game between the No. 9 Sacramento Kings and No. 10 Golden State Warriors, with the winner of that game facing the No. 1 Oklahoma City Thunder.

Pelicans Last 5

vs Lakers – L124-108

@ Warriors – W114-109

@ Kings – W135-123

@ Trail Blazers – W110-100

@ Suns – W113-105

CJ McCollum led the Pelicans with 25 points and seven assists in Sunday’s loss. He 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. He is ranked 2nd in the NBA in points in the paint per game, averaging 17.7 PITP and is 1-of-3 NBA players to average 22-plus points and shoot 57% or better from the field this season.

Brandon Ingram had 13 points and five rebounds in 23 minutes. 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.

Since the new year, New Orleans is ranked 4th in net rating (5.9), ranked 7th in offensive rating (117.4) and 7th in defensive rating (111.6). Additionally, the Pelicans are ranked 5th in plus/minus per game (plus-5.8), ranked 3rd in steals per game (8.3), ranked 2nd in three-point percentage (39.1%) and ranked 8th in field goal percentage (48.9%).

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
NBA Betting Odds Tonight