The New Orleans Pelicans (30-28) head on the road again as part of Wednesday night’s NBA matchups, looking for their fifth win in the last five games to build momentum heading into the All-Star break. Wednesday night’s tilt in Los Angeles will be the Pelicans’ last until February 23rd, when they return to play in Toronto.
While New Orleans is heading towards the break with some steam, the Los Angeles Lakers are looking past this spot on the NBA schedule as they want to use their downtime to regroup and make a run at a minimum toward the play-in tournament over the last couple of months of the season. Despite losing four of their last five, L.A. is still a -3 point favorite for Wednesday’s Pelicans vs Lakers picks.
New Orleans Pelicans vs. Los Angeles Lakers Odds
It’s somewhat strange to see the Lakers as -3 point favorites in the NBA picks today, considering their recent struggles. Sometimes that could be an indicator of a trap play on the Pelicans, especially when New Orleans has won four of the last five in the series.
Neither team is really at full strength, which likely factors into the NBA odds today. L.A. has a chance at getting to .500 at home (13-14) heading into the break, which could be their motivating factor for the Pelicans vs Lakers picks heading into this game, especially since New Orleans is just 10-18 on the road this season.
New Orleans Pelicans vs. Los Angeles Lakers Matchup Information
New Orleans Pelicans vs Los Angeles Lakers
Location of the Game: Crypto.com Arena, Los Angeles, CA.
Date and Time: Wednesday, February 15th, 2023, 10:00 PM ET.
How to Watch: ESPN| Spectrum | Bally Sports
New Orleans Pelicans vs. Los Angeles Lakers Betting Preview
New Orleans Pelicans
The Pelicans continue to play without the oft-injured Zion Williamson, who has been out since January 2nd with a hamstring injury. At least they have Brandon Ingram after he missed two months with a left toe injury, and Ingram put up his best NBA player stats of the season on February 4th against the Lakers with 35 points.
Ingram likes playing against his former team even though he has called this “just another game,” averaging 25.9 points, 5.5 rebounds, and 4.3 assists in 10 games against the club that drafted him #2 overall in the 2016 draft.
Ingram may have to shoulder quite a load in Wednesday’s matchup as CJ McCollum (21.1 ppg) missed Monday’s win over Oklahoma City with an ankle injury. With the All-Star break coming up, it wouldn’t be a big shocker if McCollum is held out again vs. the Lakers.
Los Angeles Lakers
The Lakers are still trying to calibrate after acquiring D’Angelo Russell from Minnesota at the trade deadline, going 1-1 since his acquisition. Russell has averaged 15.5 points and 5.0 assists in his two games with Los Angeles but has also yet to play with Lebron James, who has missed the last three contests with an ankle injury.
With James, the new all-time leading scorer in the NBA, expected to be such a big face of All-Star weekend, it would make sense that he rests his ankle one more game and doesn’t suit up vs. New Orleans.
The Los Angeles Lakers stats have them 7th in the NBA in scoring at 117.0 ppg, but that obviously takes a hit with James possibly out of the lineup. Anthony Davis is coming off a 19-point, 20-rebound performance in a losing effort against Portland, which was his third straight game with 16+ rebounds.
New Orleans Pelicans vs. Los Angeles Lakers Betting Picks
The New Orleans Pelicans stats aren’t great with both Williamson and McCollum out, as that’s around 47 points per game on the sidelines. Jonas Valanciunas did have a fairly productive game against the Lakers on February 4th with 18 points and 14 rebounds, but he may be neutralized with the way Davis is rebounding lately.
Ultimately, you might just have to throw out NBA team stats in this matchup, considering both teams are likely looking ahead to the all-star break. If you just read the point spread for Pelicans vs Lakers picks, L.A. probably shouldn’t be favored by -3 the way they’ve played lately, which is why they probably should be the play.
- Pick: Lakers -3
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