New Orleans Pelicans vs Los Angeles Lakers Prediction & Betting Tips - NBA

Prediction published on 13/04/2024, 14:07  by Kennedy Kechula | Modified on 14/04/2024 at 01:42 in NBA Predictions

The New Orleans Pelicans will be at home to welcome the LA Lakers as the two conclude their 2023/24 NBA regular season campaign. Sixth-placed New Orleans have the advantage over eighth-placed LA in the Western Conference. The Pelicans will be out to confirm their place in the top six and qualification to the playoffs proper. Failure to win and they will have to contend with a play-in matchup to prolong their postseason. Willie Green’s men have compiled a 49-32 record and are one game clear of the Suns in seventh. Though they have struggled at home and against the Lakers, their rich vein of form will have them confident of a win. The Pels have won four straight games which have all come on the road. Before this hot streak, they had lost four consecutive home fixtures. New Orleans, who have averaged 119.7 points over their last three outings, defeated the Warriors 114-109 last time out. Larry Nance Jr., Brandon Ingram and Naji Marshall were all absent once again and are more likely to be unavailable here as well.

The Lakers got back to winning ways last time out by defeating the Grizzlies 123-120 on the road. Their 46th win in 81 games snapped a two-game losing run. The win also moved them into eighth place and potentially allowed them two games to make the playoffs proper. Darvin Ham’s men are therefore seeking a win here to hold on to eighth place. They are currently a game clear of the Kings in ninth and Warriors in 10th. LA do not have the tiebreaker advantage over any of those two teams and therefore have to win here. If they can get the job done then they are most likely going to face the Suns for the seventh seed. The Lakers have won two of the three matchups with the Pelicans this season. Their one defeat however came the last time they were in New Orleans. Christian Wood, Jarred Vanderbilt, and Jalen Hood-Schifino remain sidelined with injuries. LA have averaged 120 points over their last three games.